PDP Convention: Court Re-affirms Order

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has reaffirmed that his order on maintaining the status quo in the suit filed against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention remains in force and must not be flouted by any of the parties involved.

The court insisted that no party must take any step that would jeopardise or render its court’s decision nugatory and warned that it would be forced to make a consequential order against any party that resorts to self-help.

The judge’s remarks followed the complaint by one of the lawyers to the PDP, Chris Uche SAN, that the status quo maintenance order is holding back his client. He applied for a speedy hearing of the suit.

At Thursday’s proceedings, the judge said that his court would do everything possible to deliver judgment in the suit between now and the end of October so that the respective parties would know their fate.

He warned that no party would be allowed to use any ploy to delay the speedy hearing of the suit challenging the legality or otherwise of the party’s planned national convention, which is scheduled for November 15th and 16th in Ibadan, Oyo state.

“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 a suit.

“The court must not be over-reached, and where such is done, the court has power to issue a consequential order, nullifying such an act. We all know the law, so please let us respect it. It is in our collective interest.

“In the instant case, I can assure you that the court decision will be made between now and the end of October. On the day of the judgment, parties will be given copies of the judgment. I type my own judgments by myself, so there will be no delay issue, “the Judge said.

Meanwhile, the judge has fixed Monday, October 20th, for the definite hearing of the originating summons regarding the suit instituted against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and eight others by three aggrieved party members.