PDP Crisis: Judge Confused, Says “I Do Not Know What This Suit Seeks To Achieve”

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the High Court of Abuja has expressed confusion over a litany of legal battles being fought by the two factional leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Reacting to a suit filed by the Ahmed Markarfi-led faction against the Chief Judge of
the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, and another judge in the Abuja Division of the court, Justice Okon Abang, the judge said: “I must express my reservation that this is not the kind of suit that should be filed in court. I do not know what this suit seeks to achieve.”
Justice Auta’s lawyer, Mr. James Igwe (SAN), agreed with Justice Adeniyi’s observation and said that he had expressed similar view.
The Makarfi-led faction of the PDP had filed the suit with respect to the ongoing leadership crisis in the party.
The suit marked, CV/2239/2016, seeks among others, the enforcement of the party’s right to fair hearing.
The party blamed Justices Auta and Abang for the various conflicting decisions given in relation to the leadership crisis in the party.
The plaintiff said it was wrong for Justice Abang to assume jurisdiction on cases relating to the party’s leadership crisis when a judge of the court’s Port Harcourt division was already hearing similar cases.
But Justice Abang had in one of his rulings said that the PDP leadership crisis case was first assigned to him before the case on the same subject matter was filed before the Port Harcourt Division.
The plaintiff is praying among others, for an order setting aside all the decisions and orders made so far by Justice Abang in the cases on the PDP leadership crisis.
But Justice Adeniyi, who was to hear the case, faulted the rationale behind the suit filed on behalf of the plaintiff by Mr. Ken Njemanze (SAN).
The judge said that such case was not one that ought to be filed in court.
“I think before the last date, the plaintiff would have had a rethink and withdrawn it.
He, however, said he has filed all necessary documents, including a notice of preliminary
objection, to the suit and that he was ready for whichever decision taken by the plaintiff at the end of the day.
Justice Abang, who had also filed other processes, including a notice of preliminary objection against the suit, was represented by his lawyer, Aliyu Ahmed. [myad]