Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, warned against action that may undermine his decision in the ongoing suit seeking to stop the scheduled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s convention.
Justice Omotosho gave the warning following the complaint by lawyer to the PDP, Chris Uche, SAN, that his client was being held back by the status quo maintenance order by the court and applied for speedy hearing of the suit.
The judge, however, reaffirmed that the status quo order remains in force and must not be flouted by any of the parties involved in the suit.
He said no party must take any step that may render the decision of the court negatory and threatened that he would be forced to make consequential order against any party that resort to self help.
The judge said that the court would do everything possible to deliver judgement expeditiously for the respective parties to know their fate.
He cautioned against using any ploy to delay speedy hearing of the suit.
Earlier at the resumed hearing, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, who is the National Legal Adviser of the PDP, and Uche maintained their status as the legal representative of the party.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Omotosho had, on Tuesday, adjourned the matter until today for the PDP to put its house in order on legal representation.
However, when Ajibade and Uche insisted being the lawyers to appear for PDP, the judge directed them to file their processes for the court to determine the proper legal representation for the party.
Justice Omotosho consequently fixed Oct. 20 for the hearing of the substantive suit and other motions before him.
The judge fixed the date following confirmation that virtually all processes for and against the suit had been filed.
The judge ordered that the filed processes must be exchanged by all parties latest on Oct. 17 so as to pave way for accelerated hearing of the suit.
NAN reports that Ajibade and Umar Damagun, the National Chairman of PDP, on Tuesday, disagreed in open court on
who had the power to appoint lawyer to represent the party.
While Damagum, who was physically present in court in a letter he personally signed, mandated Uche, SAN, to represent PDP in the suit, Ajibade insisted that he was the only authority that could appoint legal representation for the party.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the plaintiffs; Hon Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Hon Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman) and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South), had filed the suit.
They had sued Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP, Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the party; Umar Bature, National Organising Secretary of the party; National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party as 1st to 6th defendants respectively.
The plaintiffs had instituted the suit to stop the planned Nov. 15 and Nov. 16 National Convention of PDP scheduled for Ibadan in Oyo State where it’s new national officers are expected to be elected.
