The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered that all processes relating to the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and its governorship candidate in Benue State, Rt. Hon Titus Uba , challenging the declaration of Hyacinth Alia as the Governor of Benue State, be served on Alia and his deputy, Samuel Ode, through substituted means.
The five-man panel led by Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, JSC, gave the order while ruling on ex-parte application filed by Chief Sebastine Hon, SAN, for Hon.Uba and the PDP.
The order became necessary following complaint from the bailiff of the Court of Appeal
that all efforts to serve Governor Alia at his residential address on No.12 Kuma Abanyam Street, New G.R.A, Makurdi, Benue State, and his office at Benue State Government House, Makurdi, proved abortive.
The Apex Court ordered that the notice of appeal, record of appeal, Appelant brief, motion on notice for consolidation and any other process in the appeal be served on Alia and Ode by pasting the said processes on the notice board of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Benue State Chapter at No.73 J.S Tarka Way in Makurdi, or in the alternative, by depositing the said processes at the gate of the Benue State Government House.
Consequently, the Supreme Court fixed Monday, December 18th, 2023, as return date for proof of service on Governor Alia and his deputy, Ode.
Uba and the PDP are challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, that upheld the decision of the Benue State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which dismissed their petition challenging the declaration of Alia as the governor of Benue State by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.