Rivers PDP controversy: Court of Appeal fixes January 14 to hear applications

The Court of Appeal on Tuesday in Abuja fixed January 14, 2014 to hear all pending applications in a suit filed by the sacked Executive Council members of the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Justice Ahmed Yahaya, who led two other justices, held that the complex nature of the case occasioned by the zeal shown by counsel necessitated the adjournment.
Yahaya said: “We must get the fundamental issues right before we take off.
“All the pending applications, including that of those who have shown interest to be joined, must be given fair hearing.
“In order to properly determine the priority of the applications to be taken, counsels are directed to file their addresses for the purpose of arguing them on the next adjourned date.
“The appeal is therefore adjourned to January 14, 2014 for all the applications to be heard.”
Godspower Umejuru-Ake, the sacked Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the PDP, and other members of the executive had approached the Court to challenge their sack by an Abuja High Court.
Chief Felix Obuah and Walter Ibibia Opuene, who are respondents in the appeal, have since been elected as the State Chairman and Secretary of the party respectively.
Earlier, Chief Joseph Daudu (SAN), the counsel to the appellants, had opposed attempt by Prof. A.O. Muzan, the counsel to Merino Okiwaja, an executive member of the party, to be joined in the appeal.
Muzan had announced to the court that his pending motion, which would enable Okiwaja to be joined in the appeal, was ripe for hearing.
Muzan and two other lawyers are seeking to stop the appellants from continuing with the appeal.
Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), Ken Njamanze (SAN), Chief Sunday Ameh (SAN), Godwin Obla (SAN), as well as Ibrahim Bawa are counsel to some of the respondents.