Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has emphatically re-affirmed his previous status quo order in the lawsuit challenging the planned People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention, insisting the order “must not be flouted” by any of the involved parties.
The judge stressed that no party should take any action that would jeopardise or render the decision of his court nugatory, warning that he would be compelled to make a “consequential order” against anyone who attempts to “resort to self help.”
Justice Omotosho’s remarks came after Chris Uche, SAN, a lawyer representing the PDP, complained that his client felt constrained by the status quo order and asked for the suit to be heard quickly.
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During the proceedings on Thursday, the presiding judge gave an assurance that his court would strive to deliver judgment in the suit—which contests the legality of the PDP’s National Convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State—sometime between now and end of October.
The judge explicitly warned that no party would be allowed to use any ploy to delay speedy hearing of the suit.
Justice Omotosho stated: “You and I as Lawyers and Ministers in the Temple of Justice know that once a suit is filed in respect of any matter and parties have been served with processes, it is the law that no party should take any step in respect of such suit.”
He added, “The court must not be over-reached and where such is done, the court has power to issue consequential order, nullifying such act. We all know the law, and please, let us respect the law. It is in our collective interest.”
He concluded by reassuring the parties about the timeline: “In the instant case, I can assure you that the court decision will be made between now and end of October. On the day of the judgement, parties will be given copies of the judgement. I type my own judgements by myself, so there will be no issue of any delay.”
The judge has fixed Monday, October 20, for the definitive hearing of the originating summons in the suit filed by three aggrieved PDP members against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and eight others.
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