An order restricting the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from suspending Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has been extended by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja today.
Counsel to the governor, Dr Joshua Musa, SAN, and lawyer to the PDP and others Johnson Usman, SAN, settled for March 6 to argue their case; thus, Justice Omotosho extended the restraining order.
Recall that on February 2, Justice Omotosho restrained the PDP and others listed in the case of Wike’s motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/139/2023, dated and filed Feb. 2.
Others joined in the suit are the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC); the National Chairman of PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu; the National Secretary of PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st to 6th respondents respectively.
Wike requests an order mandating all parties to maintain the status quo and to keep all actions relating to the threat to suspend or expel him by the first through fifth respondents pending the hearing and resolution of the originating motion.
The governor also requested a court order allowing him to serve the motion on notice, originating motion, and all other court procedures in the suit on the first to fifth respondents by substituted means by publicizing all the supposed processes at the National Secretariat of the PDP.
Read more: Court stops PDP from suspending Wike
Following the hearing from both parties, Justice Omotosho granted all the reliefs sought, stating that “All parties in this suit shall maintain peace and shall not take any action or step or act that may make the outcome of the motion on notice dated and filed on 2nd February 2023 nugatory and worthless.
He pointed out that any act or step or action made so as to make the outcome of the motion on notice dated and filed on 2nd February 2023 nugatory shall be nullity. “That leave is hereby granted to the applicant (Wike) to serve the originating motion, motion on notice and all other processes of this court in this suit on the 1st to 5th respondents by substituted means to wit, by pasting all the said processes of court on PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,” Justice Omotosho explained.