Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
It was a mild drama Friday at the Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, when the suit filed against the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, by one of its governorship aspirants, Gen. Ijioma U. Ijioma (retd.), was erroneously served on the All Progressives Congress, APC.
When the matter was introduced and the presiding Judge, Justice Evelyn Ayadike, was taking record of the Counsels for the various parties, Counsel to the first defendant ( APGA), Nnamdi Okorie, told the court that his client had not been served.
Based on his claims, the presiding Judge decided to critically take a look at the signatories for the recipients of the summons before her and confirmed that the recipient for the 1st Respondent wrote APC and not APGA.
She sought clarifications from the lawyer to the plaintiff, Yunus Ustaz Usma, SAN, who said that the error would be sorted out later.
Meanwhile, Chief Chikwe Udensi, who came fourth at the APGA governorship primaries, was also in court, and through his Counsel, Grant Osu, filed summons seeking to be joined in the suit.
Counsel to the Plaintiff did not oppose the application, and Udensi’s lawyer was asked to serve all the necessary parties.
Counsel to INEC, Mrs B. I. Amadi, said she was just served at the court where she came for another matter.
The 2nd Defendant, Greg Ibe, was represented by Owen Ugani and Chief FC Ibebuike.
Counsel to the Plaintiff, complained to the court that his client had started receiving threats.
Usma who, however, did not disclose the source(s) of the said threats, also claimed that his star witness, had declined to appear before the court following alleged threats to his life.
Meanwhile, the presiding Judge told him to direct any case of threat to the police for investigation as there was nothing the court could do about that.
The matter was adjourned till July 13 for hearing.
Gen. Ijioma who came third at the primary is among others prayers, seeking the nullification of the May 29 governorship primaries.
He sought a declaration that the 1s Defendant (APGA) failed to provide a level playing ground for the contestants in the Governorship Primary Election of the All Progressives Grand Alliance for the nomination of the 1st Defendant’s candidate at its primary election conducted on the 29″ May, 2022, and was done in a way that conferred undue advantage in favour of the 2nd Defendant.
He also sought an order of the court directing APGA “to conduct a fresh Abia State Gubernatorial Primary Election for the Plaintiff in exclusion of all unqualified contestant.”
The retired General further sought “special damages of the sum of N15, 000,000 (Fifteen Million Naira) jointly and severally against the 1st and 2nd Defendants in favour of the Plaintiff”.
He also sought “general damages in the sum of N5, 000,000,000 (Five Billion Naira) jointly and severally against the 1st and 2nd Defendants in favour of the Plaintiff”.
The summons read in part: “AN ORDER OF COURT directing the 1st Defendant to present the name of the Plaintiff to the 3r Defendant( INEC) as the All Progressives Grand Alliance Governorship’s candidate in the forthcoming Abia State Gubernatorial election scheduled to hold on the 11” March, 2023.
“AN ORDER OF COURT directing the 3rd Defendant to recognize the Plaintiff as the All Progressives Grand Alliance Governorship’s candidate for the Abia State Gubernatorial election scheduled to hold on the 11” March, 2023.
“Cost of instituting this action in the sum of N100,000,000 (One Hundred Million Naira) jointly and severally against the 1st and 2nd Defendants.”
