The Supreme Court on Wednesday turned down applications for a review of its February 13, 2020, judgment which sacked David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress as governor-elect in Bayelsa State.
A seven-man panel of the apex court, led by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, described the applications filed by the APC and its governorship candidate, David Lyon, as vexatious, frivolous, and constituted a gross abuse of court process.
Justice Amina Augie, who read the lead judgment, said the applications amount to an invitation for the apex court to sit in appeal on its earlier judgment in violation of the Constitution.
She said that it would amount to violating the finality of its judgment if the applications were granted, which would open a floodgate for the review of decisions of the Supreme Court.
There must be an end to litigation, she said and “the decision of the Supreme Court is final for ages in a matter, only legislation could change it.”
Justice Augie said she was disappointed that “very senior” lawyers were asking he apex court to reverse itself.
The costs of N10m to be personally paid by Lyon’s lawyer, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), and APC’s lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), were awarded by the court.
The said sum mus be paid by both lawyers to each of the three respondents – the Peoples Democratic Party, Governor Duoye Diri, and the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhruojakpo.
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