As legal fireworks concerning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National convention slated for 17th August, 2016 in Port Harcourt, intensifies, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice Okon Abang has ruled that his Court has jurisdiction to entertain cases bothering on legality of PDP’s activities.
The ruling follows the demand by Senator Ahmed Makarfi’s faction where Justice Abang was asked to stand down his ruling stopping the proposed Peoples Democratic Party’s national convention scheduled to take place in Port Harcourt on Wednesday in order to elect its National officers.
In his motion which was filed through his Counsels, Makarfi challenged the jurisdiction of Justice Abang’s Court to deliver such judgement in favour of Ali Modu Sheriff and asked the court to stand down that judgement.
Having listened to the prosecuting and defense counsels, Abang said, the request of the faction of Makarfi’s PDP and other interested parties to stand down his previous judgement was not in the court’s record, hence, he was not bound to entertain the matter in the first place.
He added that oral application was inadequate in view of Order 26, rule 2 to sustain requests of plaintiff.
Having traversed through relevant provisions of laws to substantiate his position, Abang maintained that the court will not help any party in dispute for a case that was not filed in the court.
He was emphatic that the judgement which was delivered in Port Harcourt on Monday through a motion application by Senator Ben Obi, a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party was embarrassing to the nation and an attempt to cause confusion in the country.
Abang maintained that there was no conflicting judgement concerning the convention as it were.
DAILY POST
