Two factions of the Labour Party (LP) had a heated exchange on Thursday after a Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned a hearing on an application to discontinue a suit against Athan Achonu, the party’s Imo governorship candidate for the Nov. 11 gubernatorial election.
Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the hearing until Jan. 11 after Kehinde Edun, who announced appearance for LP (1st plaintiff), disclosed that he was in court to file a discontinuance notice in the matter.
Upon resumed hearing, Edun, who also announced himself as National Legal Adviser of LP, said “On behalf of the 1st plaintiff, we want to inform the court that the 1st plaintiff was joined without authorisation.
“I am here to file a Notice of Discontinuance. We have no case against the defendant (Independent National Electoral Commission).”
Taken aback by Edun’s submission, Anderson Asemota, who had been appearing for all the plaintiffs, including the 1st plaintiff (LP), said the matter was slated for hearing.
He said he was served with a notice of joinder by Imo governorship candidate, Achonu, through his lawyer, Okwudili Anozie, who had earlier announced appearance as party seeking to be joined.
“The National Legal Adviser said the suit was filed without authorisation,” the judge told Asemota.
But Asemota said Edun was not the party’s National Legal Adviser.
The lawyer, who said the National Legal Adviser had just stepped out, said the National Youth Leader was in court, pointing to a litigant, who stood up for recognition.
Asemota stated that the LP, whom he represented in court, had not briefed him about discontinuance of the suit.
Besides, he said he had not been served with the notice Edun planned to file.
He argued that as a procedure, Edun had to be in the matter first by applying to be joined before he would notify him of his plan to file a notice of discontinuance.
The judge then asked Edun if he had served Asemota with the application.
“I will serve them now,” Edun responded.
Justice Ekwo consequently adjourned the matter until Jan. 11 to hear the Notice of Discontinuance.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while Asemota represented Alhaji Lamidi Apapa faction, Edun appeared for Julius Abure-led faction of LP.
Meanwhile, shortly after the court adjourned the matter, some members loyal to Apapa appeared in court, challenging Edun’s move to discontinue their suit.
The development led to a heated argument, which required intervention from security personnel and court staff.
