RIVERS CORRESPONDENTS JOURNALISTS ELECTION UPDATE: NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL COURT OF NIGERIA FIXES MARCH 1ST, 2018

The presiding Judge of National Industrial Court of Nigeria Port Harcourt Judicial Division His Lordship  A. Ibrahim had on Monday 12th of February, 2018 fixed 1st March, 2018 for adoption of motions from counsels in the court case Suit No: NICN/PH/04/2018 involving Mr. Akpekwu Christopher Imbufe, Mrs Bunmi Durojaiye, Mr. Chijioke Nwankpa as Claimants and Applicants, against Mr Abdulwaheed Odusile, Alhaji Liman Shuaibu, Elder Eddy Egude, Miss Uche Agbam, Mr. Anayo Onukwugha , Mr. Joseph Ezuma, Mr. Ernest Chinwo, Mr. Godfrey Azubuike, Mrs Alice Onukwugha, Mrs Jane Frances Oraka, Mr Amaechi Okonkwo and Mr. Chidi Ohalete  who are defendants and Respondents. When the matter was called up for mention Mr Abdulwaheed, Alhaji Liman Shuaibu and Elder Eddy Egude were not in Court but represented by their Counsel who told the court that she appeared for all the defendants in the case.

However, for the fact that the defendants Counsel filed motions and served Barrister Edmund Ebri counsel to Claimants while inside the court room the presiding Judge therefore told the counsels to all parties to take adjournment which was fixed for March 1st, 2018 to enable the counsels to respond to various Motions filed on behalf of their clients. As the Generalizations of the Motions as requested by the Defense counsel should be adopted on the March 1st, 2018 while Barrister Edmund Ebri will submit his response to Motions served him at the court room today within the adjoined days.

While addressing the Court, the sitting Judge narrated a similar matter involving Nigerian Union of journalists Enugu state Council and others members of the Union while he was presiding which he said was connected to tussle over leadership and control of money as it is common with other Union matters. He made it abundantly clear that if during the trial with evidence and facts of the Law anyone having been found to have manipulated his or her way into position of authority that he or she never legally acquired that the person will relinquish the position and will be meant to refund all monies spent while in the illegitimate position. He cited the newly introduced edicts about some National lawmakers who in 2015 elections were found to have rigged their way into the National assembly that they were meant to refund all salaries and allowances illegitimately earned within the period they occupied that office. He therefore admonished the learned Counsels to talk to their clients to maintain peace while the matter is before the temple of justice and that the court has powers to dispense justice rightfully.

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Mr. Ernest Chinwo

While on the sideline of Foyer section of Old Judiciary building Barrister, Edmund Ebri served Mrs. Jane Frances Oraka and Chidi Ohalete as having been joined in the case but while Mrs. Jane Frances Oraka had already endorsed the Motion on Notice Court papers she contacted the Defense Counsel who objected to the mode of service instead insisted that it should be done through Application for Motion in Court. It was at that stage that all the parties departed from the court premises while the Claimants went home with their heads held high over the outcome of the 12th February, 2018 court sitting.