A Justice of the Nigerian Court of Appeal has suddenly died, as processes for his elevation to the Supreme Court of Nigeria commenced.
Justice Joseph Shagbaor Ikyegh passed away on Wednesday evening in his home town of Makurdi. He was 65. Ikyegh was the head of the Port Harcourt division until he suddenly slumped before his family members and was pronounced dead, it was learnt.
His death came weeks after political opposition in Ogun State accused him of taking cash bribes to uphold the controversial re-election of Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Justice Ikyegh led the panel that upheld a lower tribunal decision, which was hinged largely on a technical claim that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described as ‘purported’, the initial certification of Mr. Abiodun by the electoral umpire, INEC. He was joined by another justice on the three-member panel.
The third justice, Jane Esienanwan Inyang, dissented in the matter, saying there was no justification for upholding Mr. Abiodun as governor.