By Mandy Tina
A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt Rivers State, has adjourned a suit filled by Civil Society Organizations in the state against 25 members of the state House of Assembly to April 26 for hearing.
The 25 embattled lawmakers had defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the wake of the political crisis that engulfed the state last year.
The presiding judge, Justice Stephen Dalyop-Pam, on Monday adjourned the matter after listening to counsels in the matter, adding that the adjournment was to give all parties in the suit ample opportunity to file in their processes.
Justice Dalyop-Pam, also directed counsels in the matter to ensure that they complete their processes of services and serve each other before the new date.
In an interview with our correspondent, counsel representing the plaintiff, Chief Eugene Ode, explained that some parties had filed preliminary objections challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the substantive matter before it, adding that some counsels had not filed responses to the court.
“It was in the spirit of fair hearing and justice that the court adjourned the matter to give fair hearing and equal justice to all, so at the end, no body would say that he or she was not heard.
“The adjournment was not a temporary set back but to ensure that justice is served to all parties involved, It is also for the interest of justice to allow them bring their processes to the court. We have taken a new date so that nobody would say he was shut out of the matter”.
Ode however said that the chances of his clients winning the case is bright and dependent on the court and the arguments before it.
“What we are asking court is that justice must be served in manifold to anybody who violates the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria no matter how highly the person or group of persons are placed. That is what we are asking and if the court agree with us good”.
The state chairman of the Civil Society Organizations, Comrade Enefa Georgewill, said they are asking the court to interpret section 119(G) of the constitution of the country with regards to the 25 embattled members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from PDP to APC whether they are still members of the house in line with the constitution, stressing that their actions contravenes the sections of the constitution and they should vacate their seats.
