Contrary to expectations, the end may not be in sight for the much touted defection case instituted by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Imo State Chapter against the Speaker of the Imo House of Assembly, Rt (Hon) Benjamin Uwajumogu and three others over defection to All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as the case has been adjourned to another date.
The PDP had gone to court asking the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to sack the affected lawmakers and declare their seats vacant. At the resumed sitting on Monday, counsel to Uwajumogu, Niyi Akintola, SAN caused the court to adjourn hearing again. The matter which was slated for hearing at the Federal High Court, Owerri, yesterday, could not proceed owing to an application letter by Akintola (SAN) of the defendant seeking adjournment to April 29, 2013 due to his unavoidable as he claimed to have traveled to Cape Town, South Africa for World Lawyers’ Conference.
Akintola’s submission forced the court to shift hearing to the end of this month. However, the counsel to PDP, Chief Awa Kalu (SAN) and Eze Duruihoma (SAN) who were present did not challenge or object to the application for adjournment. Consequently, the court granted the application and adjourned the matter to the 29th of April 2013 by 1 pm.
It was however learnt that Uwajumogu’s request for time is another tactical ploy to allow the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, the party PDP claimed that the Imo Speaker joined on inauguration of the House after he was elected Speaker, file a motion claiming that he is not one of their members and is not a registered card-carrying party member at the ward, state and national levels.
Prior to this period especially during the resumed hearing, APGA had issued a statement claiming that Uwajumogu is not their member. The statement as published by a local tabloid based in Owerri disclosed that he did not join APGA from PDP after inauguration adding that he is still a member of the PDP.
Trumpeta learnt that the time will afford APGA to join the suit and be part of the matter.
