Court discontinues PDP's suit against lawmaker

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has discontinued further hearing of the suit by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to unseat Ephraim Nwuzi, the lawmaker representing Etche-Omuma Federal Constituency in the National Assembly.

A statement by a former Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, said the court adjourned the matter to January 21, 2021, following a motion of stay brought by Nwuzi through his Lawyer, Tuduru Edeh. He told the court that his client had appealed the earlier court decision to hear the matter amidst contentious issues of jurisdiction.

Despite objections raised by the plaintiff’s lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe, Justice Omotosho ruled that for justice to be served, the matter should be stood down till January 21, 2021, to receive an update on the process at the Court of Appeal.

The PDP sued Nwuzi, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) recently, to court vowing to retrieve the legislative seat from him.

Finebone said: “The PDP should leave Nwuzi alone and face the giants such as Ebonyi State Governor David, and others, who have left and are still leaving the party. The governor should concern himself with stemming the nationwide exodus the PDP is witnessing and let Nwuzi be.”