By David Odama
A High Court sitting in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Thursday, ordered that the notice on motion filed restraining the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from conducting ward congresses of the party be reserved on the first, second and third respondents.
Recalled that the plaintiffs had allegedly filed a motion against PDP (first respondent), Mr Francis Orogu, PDP Chairman (second respondent) and the State Working Committee of the party (third respondent) restraining the defendants from conducting ward congresses of the party last Saturday.
Ruling on the motion after hearing from counsels to both the plaintiffs and the respondent, Justice Abdullahi Shams-Shammah adjoined the case to Tuesday next week and ordered that the summons be properly reserved on the defendants.
Earlier, counsel to the first respondent, Barr. Jacob Nzamanah, counsel to the first respondent informed the court that his client was not properly served but acknowledged that four notices regarding the ex-parte order were affixed to the walls of the office of his client.
He further argued that his client had not been served with the originating processes hence the court lacks jurisdiction to continue with the matter.
Also, counsel to the second and third respondents, Daniel Obande, told the court that his inability to file a memorandum for appearance was due to lack of service of court documents to his clients.
He requested the court to adjourn the case to allow them adequate time to response.
On his part, counsel to the plaintiffs, Ishaka Mudi-Diko (SAN), called on the court to extend the restraining order.
The counsel to the plaintiffs who informed the court that the respondents had gone ahead and conducted ward congresses in the state in violation of restraining order, however filed a fresh motion requesting the court to nullify the congresses conducted by the respondents.
It would be recalled that the court had on September 27, 2024 gave an ex-parte order following a motion filed by the plaintiffs, and 16 members of the party led by Senator Mohammed Ogoshi-Onawo (PDP, Nasarawa South).
