Court vacates order halting INEC from receiving recall petition against Akpoti-Uduaghan

The Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Monday vacated the ex-parte injunction granted to Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on 20 March.

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge, Isa Dashen of the Federal High Court, who gave the order setting aside the injunction he granted, also ordered for the acceleration of the case.

Mr Dashen had on Thursday granted an interim injunction restraining INEC, its staff, agents, privies or assigns from receiving, accepting or acting on any petition containing signatures of members of Kogi Central Senatorial District.

The court also stopped INEC from conducting any referendum upon such a petition for the purpose of initiating a recall process of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan as senator pending the determination of the motion on notice to the same effect.

But INEC, through its counsel, Abdullahi Aliyu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, made an oral application for the setting aside of the ex parte injunction granted Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan and for an accelerated hearing of the case.

Mr Aliyu argued that the Federal High Court, by provisions in the Nigerian constitution, does not have the jurisdiction to stop a constitutional body like INEC from carrying out its constitutional function.

READ ALSO: Kogi constituents submit petition to INEC for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall from Senate

“I hereby make an oral application by virtue of the pronouncement made by the Court of Appeal in the case between EFCC v Bello for the interim injunction to be discharged.

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“Also, under Order 26 rule 5(1) of the Federal High Court, we strongly apply for the accelerated hearing of the case,” he argued.

The counsel for the applicants, West Idahosa, a SAN, objected to the application for the vacation of the interim injunction granted to Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Mr Idahosa argued that when an issue of illegality is raised by complainants as in the plaintiffs of the case, a constitutional duty could be restrained.

“This is because every rule has an exception. More so, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that when a case of illegality is brought before a court, the court will first look at it to be sure whether it’s true.

“The plaintiffs in this matter said that there’s an illegality of forgery backed with a valid Affidavit before this honourable court,” he said.

Mr Idahosa said the court was inherent to do justice by provisions of section 6(6) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He, however, asked the court not to allow the application for vacation of the institution.

Mr Dashen, in his ruling, after listening to both parties, granted the application and vacated the interim order as well as ordered for the acceleration hearing of the case.

He adjourned the case to 9 April for hearing.

(NAN)