Posted by Olowo Yusuf (Wharlhexy). on 3 June, 2022 under Naija News
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The hearing of a suit against the use of adhoc delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP during the just concluded primary elections of the party in Akwa Ibom State has been adjourned to June 14, by the Federal high court.
The court adjourned the hearing of all applications before it in the case between Friday Iwok and 30 others vs INEC, PDP and 229 others following a request from parties in the case, for more time to file their responses.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Ahmed Raji, SAN had appealed for additional time to study the additional preliminary objections raised by the 2nd defendants and the 3rd to 331st defendants.
He had also wanted the court to examine pending motions while giving him time to study the issues raised in the preliminary objections raised.
While counsel to the defendant, Paul Usoro, SAN insisted that the court had earlier agreed, citing an authority in a matter between Dangote and African Petroleum(AP) that preliminary objections must be heard first before the substantive matter is heard.
Chief Usoro prayed the court to adjourn to a later date if the Plaintiff’s Counsel sought more time to study the preliminary objections.
Uwemedimo Nwoko, SAN, on his part agreed with the arguments of the Counsel to the 2nd Defendant on the need to exhaust the preliminary objections challenging the jurisdiction of the court and the locus standi of the petitioners.
“My lord, in our local parlance they used to say, the aeroplane does not have a reverse gear, meaning that the court cannot reverse itself.â€
