1 month ago
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A situation unfolded at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday as multiple Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) claimed representation for the Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, in a legal dispute concerning the conduct of the party’s congresses in Rivers State.
Last month, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, issued an injunction preventing the PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and various security agencies from obstructing or disrupting the PDP’s ward, local government, and state congresses, which were scheduled for July 27, 2024.
The case, brought by six supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was scheduled for a hearing on August 15.
When the case was called, a complication arose as three different SANs simultaneously announced their appearances for the same defendants: the PDP, Damagum, the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the National Organizing Secretary, Hon. Umar Bature.
K.C.O. Njemanze, SAN, first appeared for the plaintiffs, followed by SANs Chief Ferdinand Orbih and Kamaldeen Ajibade, who both stood up to represent the 1st to 4th defendants.
The court requested Orbih to proceed first, followed by Ajibade. However, the situation became more complex when another SAN, Sunday Ibrahim Ameh, also stood up to represent the same defendants.
Justice Lifu, aiming to prevent further confusion, instructed the senior advocates to resolve the matter among themselves.
Following this, Orbih requested a brief adjournment to sort out the issue, which the court granted without opposition.
The case was subsequently rescheduled for August 30 for further proceedings.
Justice Lifu stated, “The justice of this case demands an adjournment and consequent upon the agreement of counsel, this matter is adjourned till August 30, for final report on the counsel representing the 1st to 4th respondents, sequel to a meeting to be so held.”
He further directed that if the issue could not be resolved, the involved SANs should file motions with affidavits confirming their engagements by the parties involved.
The judge also extended the court’s previous ex-parte order, preventing the PDP and security agencies from interfering with the Rivers State congresses, pending the resolution of the main suit.
The case’s delay prevented the court from considering the application of additional parties seeking to join the suit as defendants.
