Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has on Wednesday stepped down from a suit filed by Rochas Okorocha, Governor of Imo state.
Okorocha in the suit is asking the court to ask the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to present him with his ‘certificate of return’ as winner of Imo West Senatorial District election.
Okay Nigeria had reported that INEC refused to present the ‘certificate of return’ to Okorocha after the returning officer for Imo West Senatorial District election said he declared the governor winner under duress.
However, the suit took another turn as the Judge handling the case withdrew from the case stating that he was recusing himself from adjudicating on the matter based on allegations of bias against him.
Speaking further, Justice Taiwo said the case file would be returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Adamu Abdu-Kafarati, for reassignment to another judge.
Jones Onyeriri and Osita Izunaso, candidates of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) respectively, accused the Judge of being bias as they asked the judge to disqualify himself for utterances he made in court which appeared to favour Okorocha even before the matter is heard.
