…WE DON’T WANT FURTHER DELAYS IN THIS TRIAL – UMO ENO’S LAWYERS

A federal high court in Uyo has adjourned till Wednesday, August 31, 2022 for hearing in the case of forgery, suit FHC/UY/CS/110/2022, brought before it by the defeated Governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Akan Okon against the Peoples Democratic Party, its Governorship Candidate, Pastor Umo Eno, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

This follows a motion on notice filed by Mr Akan Okon for the amendment of the originating processes he filed against the PDP Governorship Candidate, Pastor Umo Eno.

Akan Okon was expected in the witness box to testify in his case, but in a motion dated today, 29/8/22, sought the leave of the court to amend his originating processes in the suit, including his writ of summons, statement of claims, written statement on oath, list of documents and list of witnesses.

Mr Okon also brought a new lawer, Okey Amaechi,SAN to lead in the case ahead of Uche Awa, SAN who had been in the saddle before now.

During its last sitting, the Court had dismissed an application by a governorship aspirant in the May 25, 2022 PDP primaries, Mr Aniekan Akan Etim, describing it as lacking merit.

Justice Agatha Okeke in her ruling had yielded to the submissions of the plaintiffs and the 1st and 2nd defendants to dismiss the application by Mr Etim.

The court described Mr Aniekan Etim as a meddlesome interloper and a 'busybody'.

When the court re-opened for sitting on Monday, 29 August 2022, the plaintiff Mr Akan Okon who was expected to commence his case with a testimony in the court, however pleaded to file an amendment to his earlier motion, supported by an affidavit dated same day.

Counsel to the Plaintiff, Okey Amaechi, SAN, who filed the motion also pleaded with the Court to grant him leave to amend his earlier reply to the 1st and 2nd Defendants’ Statement of Defence and all accompanying processes.

Reacting to this, council to the 1st and 2nd Respondents, Paul Usoro,SAN reasoned that having just been served with the fresh amended processes, he would study them before responding.

Earlier, the court had adjourned for over two hours, after Mr Etim Akan had appeared before it with another motion for stay of proceedings, pending the outcome of his appeal at the appellate court challenging the lower court’s refusal to join him in the case as a defendant.

The court however dismissed it, saying there is no pending appeal at the Court of Appeal by the applicant.

Counsel to the Defendants, Uwemedimo Nwoko, SAN told journalists after the proceedings that they wanted to take time to study the new processes introduced by the plaintiff and that they have no problem with the amendments.

“All we want is an expedited dispensation of the case and we want to make sure that the document they brought today, does not contain anything that will stall the speedy completion of this trial”, Nwoko stated.

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