The forgery case against Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state has been suspended indefinitely by a federal high court sitting in Abuja.
Recall that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and one Williams Edobor, a chieftain of the party had filed a suit against Obaseki, accusing him of forging his first degree certificate which he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enable him contest the election.
Ruling on Obaseki’s application for the case to be suspended indefinitely, the court held that it would be inappropriate to proceed with the suit considering the application for stay pending at the court of appeal.
The judge said;
“What would be the meaning of the trial court’s action? The answer is not far fetched and that is it does not care about whatever decision the appellate court would take in relations to whether it grants stay of further proceedings or not.
“If eventually, the appellate court in its wisdom decides to stay further proceedings in the lower court and by that time, proceedings have been concluded at the lower court, the order of stay made would have been rendered worthless.
“While this uncertainty lasts, it is better and appropriate to tarry a while to allow the appellate court to carry out its jurisdiction on whether or not it should grant stay of further proceedings
“Furthermore, it is the law as established by both the court of appeal and the supreme court that where a lower court is aware of an application for stay of either execution or proceedings, it would be wrong to ignore such application and proceed to hear the suit.
“This court is not prepared to be on collision course with the court of appeal as far as this case or any case for that matter. This court is ready to abide by whatever directive the court of appeal would make or give this court including the order to conclude hearing this matter.
“This suit is hereby adjourned sine die to await the decision of the first defendant’s application for stay of further proceedings.”
