A Federal High Court, sitting in Owerri, on Tuesday, struck out a suit seeking to stop the inauguration ceremony of the Imo State governor-elect, Emeka Ihedioha, on May 29.
In his judgment, Justice, P.A. Rimgim, said that the Plaintiff, Clifford Eze, who was the governorship candidate of the Democratic Alternative (DA) during the governorship election in the state had no legal right to approach a regular court for a post-election matter.
In striking out the case, the jurist said that he lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
The judge awarded a N5 million cost against the Plaintiff.
Reacting, one of the defence counsels, Emeka Ihejirika, said that apart from lack of jurisdiction, court processes were also abused by the Plaintiff.
According to Ihejirika, “It is a primary knowledge that the regular court does not entertain post-election matters.
“The plaintiffs are already at the tribunal and the same things they brought up for argument at the tribunal are the same things they brought to the regular court.
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“Apart from the Federal High Court lacking the jurisdiction to entertain the suit, it was an abuse of court processes.
“That was why the court slammed a N5m cost against the plaintiffs. It is as simple as that.”
Ihedioha, who spoke to reporters after the judgment was delivered, said that it was victory for the people of the state.
Ihedioha spoke through his media aide, Chibuike Onyeukwu, and said that he was ready to work with everybody including the plaintiffs and members of the opposition parties to move the state forward from May 29.
