2011: LEGAL MOVES TO STOP IMOKE BEGINS IN COURT

An Abuja-based legal practitioner has commenced legal moves before a Federal High Court, Abuja Division, to terminate the tenure of Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State by May 28, 2011.

In addition, the plaintiff, Mr. Max Ogar is praying the court to disqualify the governor from contesting the next governorship election of the state having taken the oath of office twice as governor of the state.

Besides, Ogar who is interested in succeeding Imoke in office is praying for an order of court directing the governor to return to the Cross River State government all salaries and allowances he and his appointees received between May 2007 and April 2008 if he claims he was not the governor of Cross River State between May 2007 and April 2008.

The lawyer is contending that the tenure of the incumbent governor which commenced on May 29, 2007, when he first took oath of office, should terminate four years thereafter, by May 28, 2011.

It would be recalled that Governor Imoke's tenure was disrupted on July 14, 2008, following the nullification of his election by the Court of Appeal, which ordered a fresh election.

He was, however, re-elected into office in August 2008.

But it is the contention of the plaintiff before the court that the interruption of his four-year term by virtue of the judgment of the Court of Appeal did not affect all that he did in office between May 29 and July 14, 2008.

It is on this premise that the plaintiff is asking the court to declare that Governor Imoke cannot benefit from his infraction of electoral system as it affects the governorship election of April 14, 2007 by enjoying an extra year in office.