‪#‎UgochukwuAmaraizu‬

ABIA GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION TRIBUNAL UPDATE - TODAY THE 31st DAY OF JULY, 2015.

The APGA State Secretary- Elder Onukwubiri Sunday represented the 2nd Petitioner- APGA while Barr Charles Eseonu- The PDP State Secretary represented the 2nd Respondent- PDP. The 1st Petitioner- Dr Alex Otti was absent. The 1st Respondent- Dr Okezie Ikpeazu- The Executive Governor of Abia State was absent and likewise the 3rd Respondent- INEC.
Prof Awa KALU SAN lead the team for the Petitioners. A Akintola SAN appeared for the 1st Respondent with his own team while Paul Ananaba SAN also appeared with his own team for the 2nd Respondent. Mr S O Hagler appeared for the 3rd Respondent with his learned friends.
Business!
There were pending Motions due for hearing.
1st MOTION FROM THE 1st RESPONDENT.
Here, Counsel for the 1st Respondent prayed the Court for extension of time within which to bring the application. And for the Court to order for a JOINT INSPECTION of the electoral materials. The 2nd and 3rd Respondents did not oppose. Interestingly, the Petitioners did NOT challenge this application by filing a counter affidavit. Consequently, the Court did not hesitate in granting the application. The 1st Motion moved by the 1st Respondent was therefor granted.
Unfortunately, after granting the said application for joint inspection, Prof Awa KALU SAN stood up to suggest to the Court to allow each party to conduct independent inspection. However, the learned Counsel for the 1st Resoindent- Chief Akintola SAN vehemently challenged that suggestion. He insisted that all the parties must inspect the electoral materials at the same time so that there will be room for miscarriage or malpractice of any kind and that was the position confirmed by the Court.
2nd MOTION from the 1st Respondent!
This Motion prayed the Court to strike out the petition pursuant to Paragraph 18 and 47(1) & (2) of the 2nd Schedule of the Electoral Act. According to the 1st Respondent's Counsel, this very Motion is novel and special. The summary of their contention is that the application for pretrial was filed before the close of pleading. He argued that the petition is premature, incompetent and should therefore be dismissed. He relied on the Supreme Court case of Ikechukwu Vs Tony Nwoye ( 2015 ) 3 NWLR ( PT 1446 ) page 367 @ 402. The 2nd Respondent's Counsel- Paul Ananaba SAN pressed the Court to rule on the propriety of the pre trial application. He insisted that the ruling on this application is not supposed to be reserved till judgment. The 3rd Respondent, referring the Court to paragraph 18(1) of the Act argued that all the Respondents were supposed to be served with the pretrial application.
In reaction, Prof Awa KALU SAN cried loud that NO WEAPON FASHIONED AGAINST THE PETITIONERS SHALL PROSPER. Meanwhile, he just said this in the passing as he introduced Owonikoku SAN to respond to this application. The latter argued that the 2nd and 3rd Respondents' Counsel were not supposed to address the Court since they didn't file any process. He prayed the Court to discountenance their submissions. He finally adopted their Counter Affidavit and written address. He drew the Court's attention to the exhibit attached to their Counter Affidavit which is a copy of the receipt issued at the registry upon filing the application.
In his reply, Counsel for the 1st Respondent informed the Court that the receipt displayed by the Petitioners is not contained in the process they served on the Respondents. Chief Akintola also informed the Court that the petitioners abandoned their petition and that even if they run to the MOUNTAIN OF FIRE, that the dead petition cannot be awakened.
Two other Motions filed by the 2nd and 3rd Respondents were equally heard today wherein they prayed the Court to dismiss the petition for being incompetent due to glaring irregularities or omissions on the part of the petitioners. Parties adopted all their written addresses. Thereafter, the Court rose for 1hr.
Upon resumption at about 1pm today, the Court in its ruling held that the Petitioners' processes which the Respondents attacked, were proper and therefore needed to be heard. He also stated that all other rulings on all the Motions will be taken after hearing. He also stated that if in the course of hearing, the. Court discovers there is need to dismiss the petition as prayed by the Respondents in their applications, that the Court will equally do so.
The Court finally ordered the Petitioners to return next week Monday to open their case but the lead Counsel pleaded with the Court to shift the date as they were not ready to arrange their witnesses. After much considerations coupled with the burial of the late SAN, the matter was finally adjourned to Friday the 10th day of August, 2015 for HEARING.
MY PEOPLE, THERE IS NO CAUSE FOR ALARM.
The inspection begins from next week, I believe. We are now going into full trial. It is time to give evidence. There is nothing to panic. The petition is before the Tribunal. Our Response is before the Tribunal. There is no time for amendment anymore. The Lord will see us through. Tnx!!

May God come to the rescue of Abia State. The people will win at last.

Amen

Rizstar:
May God come to the rescue of Abia State. The people will win at last.

Dr ikpeazu we know...

RHP:
Dr ikpeazu we know...

Dr Alex oti, the man of the people