Cross River State government has appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Monday, that ordered 20 lawmakers from Cross River to vacate their seats over their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC) just as it filed a motion for stay of execution.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Governor Ben Ayade Mr Christian Ita on Tuesday he said that renowned constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome filed the stay of execution of the Federal High Court and the Appeal.

He went on to say that as a results of the motion abd appeal all the All Progressives Congress (APC) members in both the National Assembly and the Cross River State House of Assembly should go about their duties freely.

The Statement reads thus: This is to inform All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the National Assembly from Cross River State, members of the Cross River State House of Assembly and the general public that an appeal against the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja has been filed at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

Also, a motion for a stay of execution of the Federal High Court has been filed.

Both processes were filed by renowned constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome.

Following the filing of the two processes, automatically the orders of the lower court are stayed.

Consequently, the APC members in both the National Assembly and the Cross River State House of Assembly should go about their duties freely.

Find attached, copies of the Notice of Appeal and the motion for the stay of execution of the orders of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

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Recalled that a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Monday, ordered 20 lawmakers from Cross River to vacate their seats over their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC).

Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in a judgment, dismissed the defence argument that the PDP (plaintiff) had no locus standi (legal rights) to institute the case.

The PDP had filed the suit to challenge the lawmakers’ defection to another party.

Two members of the House of Representatives from the state; Michael Etaba and Legor Idagbor, and 18 other lawmakers from the House of Assembly, including the Speaker, Eteng Williams, were sacked in the judgment.