The President of the Court of Appeal, PCA, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, on Friday, okayed a probe into a forgery allegation that was brought before her by the founder and pioneer National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Chekwas Okorie.

Okorie, in his petition, alleged that his name was surreptitiously used to prosecute an appeal he was not aware of.

He alleged that the said appeal marked: CA/ABJ/CV/454/2023, which was between APGA & others, against the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was heard and judgement delivered after the court heard submissions from a lawyer, Mr. Sopuluchukwu Ezeonwuka.

Chief Okorie, who was at the Chambers of the Appeal Court President to submit his petition, demanded an immediate investigation into what he described as the height of professional misconduct in the legal profession.

Aside from the PCA, the petition, dated May 29, was copied to the Nigerian Bar Association; the Chairman, Body of Benchers, and the Chairman, Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, LPDC.

Addressing the media after the PCA received the petition, Chief Okorie, who was accompanied to the Appeal Court headquarters by the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Edozie Njoku, said he was shocked when his attention was brought to the development.

On his part, Chief Njoku, who described the situation as unfortunate, said his party got to know about the “fraudulent case”, when reference was made to it while the appellate court was conducting hearing on matter involving the APGA.

While calling for an in-depth investigation of the petition, Chief Njoku, said there was need for Close Circuit Television, CCTV, cameras, to be installed in all the courts in Nigeria.

Part of the petition, which was sighted by Vanguard on Friday, read: “It is our client’s brief that they have no idea whatsoever of Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/454/2023: APGA & ORS V. INEC & ORS and never briefed any one to file or prosecute the said appeal.

“The purported appeal emanated from Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1750/2022: OKORIE & ORS V. INEC ORS initiated at the Federal Court, Abuja with the following as Plaintiffs: All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chekwa Okorie, Jonathan Oyiborhino Osigho and Hon. Barr. Sopuluchukwu E. Ezeonwuka.

“After the judgment at the trial court delivered by Hon. Justice J. K. Omotosho on the matter on March 27, 2023, the Party, APGA instructed all the members involved in the matter not to go on Appeal as soon as the Supreme Court Judgment was corrected in their favor on 24^th of March, 2023 in SC/CA/687/2021: Chief Jude Okeke V. APGA & Ors.

“Strangely, without the approval of the Party and without consulting the other Appellants or securing their approval, Barr. Sopuluchukwu E. Ezeonwuka, surreptitiously took out an affidavit on behalf of the entire Appellants and went at their back to file an Appeal without the consent of the Party nor Chief Chekwas Okorie or Jonathan Osigho.

“Furthermore, the appearances section of the judgment in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/454/2023: APGA & ORS V. INEC & ORS, has the name of Chief C. N. Nwagbo as the Counsel for the Appellants. At no point whatsoever did the Appellants agreed to engage C. N. Nwagbo neither was there any evidence of payment from them for such services. A copy of the aforementioned judgement shall be attached therein.

“Indeed, Barr. Ezeonwuka’s attitude leaves much to be desired considering the fact that a case of this magnitude could be filed out of time without the consent and agreement of all the Appellants.

“Furthermore, the inclusion of the name of Mr. Jonathan Oyiborhino Osigho both as an Appellant and Respondent by Barr. Ezeonwuka, leaves much to be desired.

“We most respectfully bring this to your Lordship’s attention and pray your Lordship to cause an investigation into this matter and bring the culprits to book.

“As this will forestall and deter desperate litigants from employing unethical means, using the instruments of the courts for their ulterior motives to the detriment of innocent citizens,” the petition read. (Vanguard)

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