BREAKING: Court Shifts Judgment In Defection Suit Against Ayade

A Federal High Court in Abuja has shifted judgment delivery on the defection suit against Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State till April 7.

Justice Taiwo Oladipupo Taiwo halted delivery of the judgment to enable him to consider the implications of a Court of Appeal fresh judgment on the defection related matters.

Some days ago, the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, held that defection did not constitute any known offence but constitutional rights of freedom of association as enshrined under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution.

Ben Ayade and his deputy had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), prompting the PDP to ask the court to declare their seats vacant.

The counsel to the governor, Mike Ozekhome SAN, in a letter drew the attention of the court to the judgment of the Court of Appeal and prayed the court to bow and respect the decision of the higher Court of Appeal.