- Appeal Court Dismisses Aiyedatiwa’s Appeal Over Ondo Governorship Eligibility Suit
- Court upheld Federal High Court decision allowing amendment of originating summons.
- Aiyedatiwa ordered to pay ₦3 million total costs after failed appeal.
Appeal Court Dismisses Aiyedatiwa’s Appeal Over Eligibility Suit, Awards ₦3m Costs
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Court of Appeal of Nigeria sitting in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo State, challenging a ruling of the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Akure that allowed a suit questioning his eligibility to contest the next governorship election in the state. In a unanimous judgment, a three member panel of the appellate court held that the lower court properly exercised its discretion in the matter.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam ruled that the Federal High Court was right to grant the plaintiff, Akindele Egbuwalo, leave to amend his originating summons.
The court held that Aiyedatiwa failed to show that the trial judge’s decision caused him any injustice or denied him a fair hearing.
Consequently, the appellate court dismissed the governor’s appeal for lacking merit and awarded ₦2 million in costs against him.
The court also dismissed a separate application filed by the governor seeking to set aside an order issued on January 27, 2026, which stayed further proceedings in the case at the Federal High Court sitting in Akure.
According to the appellate court, the January 27 order did not invalidate the trial court’s ruling but represented a lawful exercise of its authority to protect the integrity of its proceedings.
The panel explained that by the time the order was issued, the appeal had already been entered, records compiled and briefs filed before the appellate court.
The court further ruled that setting aside its valid order would amount to sitting on appeal over its own decision.
It advised that Aiyedatiwa’s appropriate remedy was to approach the Supreme Court of Nigeria if he intended to challenge the ruling. The appellate court subsequently awarded an additional ₦1 million cost against the governor for filing the application seeking to overturn its earlier order.
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