The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday deferred the hearing of a suit seeking to stop the planned National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Justice James Omotosho shifted the hearing of the matter to Thursday, following a power tussle that played out in open court after the case was called up.
A mild drama ensued after the National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, and the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, tangled over who had the authority to engage lawyers to represent the party.
POWER OF FAVOUR?
(Silent, Powerful, Spiritual)
Don’t miss out on your desires. You are not the only one pursuing them. Command power of favour to achieve your heart desires:
In your undertakings. Work. Job. Career. Profession. Business. Politics. Workplace. Powerful position. Patronage. Selling. Contract. People/ crowd. Global fame. Love matters. Etc.
SPIRITUAL CONSULTATION ON:
Spiritual power of favour over efforts alone for desired outcome. Overcome delay with power of favour. Overcome rejection with power of favour. Other matters.
For Spiritual Consultation, Guidance, Contact:
DR. J.A FAROS
Call/ Whatsapp + 2 3 4 0 7 0 3 0 5 1 4 0 6 3
Sango-ota. Lagos. Nigeria.
Distance no barrier( 3 options)
By Unlimiting Power of God, Every Dream materialized.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, was brought before the court by three aggrieved members of the party: Hon. Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman), and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South).
Shortly after the case was mentioned, Damagum, who was physically present in court, personally signed a letter mandating Chief Chris Uche, SAN, to lead the party’s legal team.
On the other hand, the Legal Adviser, Ajibade, SAN, who was also in court, announced himself as the lawyer for the party, insisting he was the only authority that could appoint legal representation for the PDP.
Before Ajibade’s announcement, Chief Uche, SAN, who came to court with five other SANs, had already told the court that they were duly authorized to defend the party.
Chief Uche, SAN, had not yet assumed his seat when the PDP’s legal adviser countered him by also announcing his appearance as the bona fide legal representative of the party.
Despite Chief Uche’s authorization letter, which he submitted to the court, Ajibade, SAN, contended that the party’s constitution solely vested in him the power to appoint lawyers to handle legal matters for the PDP.
In view of the dispute, Justice Omotosho initially stood down the case for about 10 minutes to enable Damagum and Ajibade to step out of the courtroom to reach a consensus on who should represent the party in the suit.
However, when the court reconvened, the duo informed the judge that they were unable to reach an agreement.
They, therefore, requested an adjournment to enable them to reconcile their differences.
On his part, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, who announced his appearance for the plaintiffs, urged the court to proceed with the hearing of the suit should PDP fail to put their house in order on the next adjourned date.
Justice Omotosho, in a ruling, joined Damagum, Ali Odefa, and Chief Emmanuel Ogidi as the 7th, 8th, and 9th defendants in the suit.
They were joined after the court heard two separate applications argued by their lawyers, Paul Erokoro, SAN, and Audu Anuga, SAN.
Erokoro, SAN, while arguing for Damagum’s inclusion as a defendant, insisted that he was a necessary party in view of his position as the National Chairman of PDP, Chairman of its National Working Committee (NWC), Chairman of the National Executive Committee (NEC), as well as Chairman of the Convention Committee.
Similarly, Anuga, SAN, in his submissions for the inclusion of Odefa and Ogidi, told the court that the duo are officers of the party who would be affected one way or another by the outcome of the case.
Counsel to the plaintiffs, Daudu, SAN, opposed the applications and urged the court to dismiss them.
He contended that the plaintiffs did not seek any relief against those who sought to be joined, adding that the matter before the court could be effectively resolved without their input.
In his brief ruling, Justice Omotosho said he was minded to allow the applicants to be part of the case, considering the positions they occupy in the PDP.
Describing them as necessary parties, the court said it was satisfied that they would be affected by the outcome of the case.
Consequently, the court ordered the plaintiffs to amend the processes to reflect the names of the applicants as the 7th, 8th, and 9th defendants.
Other defendants in the matter are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); the PDP; the National Secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; the National Organizing Secretary of the party, Umar Baturrle; the NWC; and the NEC of the party.
Specifically, the plaintiffs, in their originating process, prayed the court to stop the National Convention of the party scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, where new National Officers of the party would be elected.