AN Abia High Court sitting in Okpuala Ngwa, Isialangwa North council of Abia State has sacked Mr. Chidozie Nwachukwu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the councillor representing Amapu Ntigha Ward 8A because he did not pay his tax as at when due.
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The court said Nwachukwu did not pay his 2013, 2014, 2015 taxes as at when due and restrained him from parading himself as the councillor representing his ward.
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The court presided over by Justice C. U. Okoroafor also ordered Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, ABSIEC, and Nwackwu’s party, PDP, from recognizing him as a councillor.
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Giving his decision on the pre-election matter brought before the court by the claimant, Mr. Jude Nwaogwugwu, also of the PDP, challenging the eligibility of Mr. Nwachukwu to contest the party’s councillorship primary election for the ward held in November 2016 as a result of default in his tax payment,
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Justice C.U. Okoroafor ruled that Mr. Nwaogwugwu who came second at the primaries election was the qualified candidate for the party primary election.
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In his remarks on the court decision, the counsel to the claimant, Chief Amara Onubuogu, commended the judgment, saying that it was a typical case of the judiciary living up to the expectations of the people.
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“Judiciary is at work. I have one hundred percent faith in the Nigerian judiciary”, Onubuogu said.
On his part, the claimant, Jude Nwaogwugwu expressed happiness over the judgment, describing the Judiciary as the last hope of the common man- according to him, the judgment has created awareness for people to know the essence of tax payment as at when due.
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Source: Vanguard
