Abuja Rt. Hon. Amobi Ogah has recorded another legal victory after the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed an application by former Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, seeking to be joined in a suit concerning allegations of election result forgery.
Delivering the ruling on Monday, Justice M.G. Umar held that Onyejeocha’s application lacked merit and declined her request to be joined in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CV/1308/2025, filed by Ogah against the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The substantive suit seeks an order of mandamus compelling INEC to conclude its investigation and, where appropriate, prosecute Onyejeocha over alleged forgery of election results arising from the 2023 National Assembly election for the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State.
The allegations of forgery have remained a central issue since the conclusion of the 2023 election, featuring prominently during proceedings before the Election Petition Tribunal and later at the Court of Appeal, both of which upheld Ogah’s victory.
Ogah has consistently maintained that the election result tendered by Onyejeocha during the tribunal proceedings was not authentic.
He has therefore urged INEC to complete its investigation and take necessary legal action.
During the earlier proceedings, INEC reportedly disowned the result presented by Onyejeocha, stating that it did not emanate from the commission.
The electoral body instead affirmed the authenticity of the result submitted by Ogah. Reacting to the ruling, Ogah’s lead counsel, Umeh Kalu, SAN, described the decision as a victory for justice and due process.
He said the court rightly held that Onyejeocha was not a necessary party in the matter, as the issues could be effectively determined between Ogah, the applicant, and INEC, the respondent.
“The ruling aligns with both the law and the facts placed before the court,” Kalu said, adding that the application for joinder was unnecessary and without legal basis.
Counsel to Onyejeocha, John Agim, SAN, who appeared on her behalf at the ruling, said her legal team would study the court’s decision and determine its next line of action.
The ruling marks yet another chapter in the prolonged legal battle stemming from the contentious 2023 House of Representatives election in Abia State, further reinforcing Ogah’s judicial victories in the dispute.
