A cumulative fine of N400,000 has been imposed by the Appeal Court in Abuja on Chief Timipre Sylva, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2023 Bayelsa State election. The fine was for filing an interlocutory appeal that caused unnecessary delays for the court and the respondents.
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and three other respondents, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Douye Diri, and his deputy Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, are the beneficiaries of the N400,000 fine.
Headed by Justice H.A Barka, the appellate court panel, with members Justices A.B Mohammed and P. Obiorah, dismissed the appeal that aimed at disbanding the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
An application was filed by Sylva and the APC to retract their appeal that intended to force the chairman and members of the Bayelsa State Election Petition Tribunal to step down.
Previously, the APC gubernatorial candidate had raised allegations of bias against the tribunal to Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, the President of the Court of Appeal. However, the application was rejected, and the panel was instructed to proceed with the ongoing petition.
Following the refusal of the election tribunal to recuse itself from the case and for the amendment of the record of proceedings, the APC and its candidate filed an interlocutory appeal No. CA/ABJ/EP/GOV/BY/09/2024. The appellants later submitted a notice of withdrawal of the appeal on Monday, which was dismissed by the appeal court panel with costs awarded against Sylva and the APC.