The Federal High Court Thursday reacted to a rumour making the rounds that it issued an order that disqualified the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Ekiti State governorship election billed to take place in the next 48 hours, where Mr. Biodun Oyebanji is a contestant.
In the purported verdict, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, was alleged to have disqualified APC and its governorship candidate, Biodun Oyebanji, from participating in the June 18, 2022 Ekiti State governorship poll.
But quashing the purported story in a statement signed by its Assistant Director, Information, Mrs. Catherine Oby Christopher, and dated 16th June, 2022, the court described the report circulating online, with the inscription ‘Oyebanji was disqualified barely 48 hours to the gubernatorial contest, as “unfounded and very mischievous”.
The statement is titled “Re: Court disqualifies APC, Biodun Oyebanji from Ekiti guber election”.
It reads partly, “The attention of the Federal High Court has been drawn to an online report in circulation on the above subject matter with a purportedly assigned Suit Number: FHC/ABJ/CS/528/22, claiming that Hon.Justice Inyang Ekwo disqualified the APC candidate, Biodun Oyebanji from the Ekiti governorship election, less than 48 hours to the polls.
“The Federal High Court hereby debunks the existence of any such case in its entire jurisdiction and indeed the Court Order as alleged.
“The Contact Court states categorically that there has been no such case before Hon. justice I.E Ekwo.
“The said report is unfounded, very mischievous and aimed at not only misleading members of the public, but also causing tension.
“It is worrisome that some media practitioners hasten to give false information to the public for their own selfish interests, thereby unduly heating up the polity.
“Professionalism and truth remain ethical values that should guide journalists in their daily reportage of issues.
“This spurious reportage sold out to the public is most unfortunate and unacceptable. It should be totally ignored”.