By Okey Alozie
Hearing on the matter between sacked Local Government Executive chairmen and the Imo State government led by Chief Emeka Ihedioha resumed on Tuesday 15th of October 2019 at High Court 8 Owerri presided over by Justice Njemanze.
Counsel to the sacked LGA chairmen and councilors Chief Umore raised alarm on the joinder application that came up.
The lawyer argued that the case will be frustrated if the joinder application is granted. He insisted that no other party should be allowed to join the matter at this point. The Accord party had sought to be joined in the case.
Continuing, the learned counsel maintained that except the application of joinder any other application submitted by his opponent will be accepted. He appealed Justice Njemanze to make an order restricting further application on the matter. He cited order 13 of the court rule to justify his presentation. “There should be no joinder in this case” Umore declared.
He used a portion of the Bible where a man called Uzaih came up to save the Arc of Covenant from falling down and in the process died. He revealed that his greatest fear now is the joinder application.
The leading counsel regretted why a party that was not part of the suit should eventually come up with a joinder application.
Reacting to this submission, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Imo State, Hon Chief Nnawuchi (SAN) submitted that the material fact must be presented. He insisted that the court should allow the material facts to come in adding that the portion cited by Chief Umore was very erroneous. According to the Attorney General, such order is unconstitutional to stop any interested party from joining in a case of this nature. Lawyer to the party applying for joinder in his own presentation said that it will be fair to allow everybody who wants to join in the case to do so.
Justice Njemanze resolved to take all the presentations so that the case will move forward the two applications presented were Counter Affidavit and Memorandum of appearance.
