The Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo West Senatorial election, Jones Onyeriri, is calling for the discontinuation of trial in the suit involving him, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Rochas Okorocha and six others before Honourable Justice Taiwo Taiwo.
Onyeriri in the motion sworn by his counsel, Chijioke Nzekwe, called on the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to transfer the suit to another Judge.
Nzekwe noted that his client has lost confidence in the ability of the justice Taiwo to deliver justice in the matter.
Recall that Governor Okorocha, following the refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission to present him the Certificate of Return, approached the Federal High Court for redress.
Other in the suit filed include, INEC, Senator Osita Izunaso, the APGA candidate, Nwachukwu Clement Ibeh Onyeoma and Precious Nwadike.
The returning officer who declared Okorocha as the winner, prof. Innocent Ibeawuchi had stated that he did under duress.
“I declared this thing before under duress; I’m still under duress declaring this one,” Professor Innocent said.
The suit was brought before Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria on April, 5th.
The PDP candidate who had called for a transfer of the suit alleged that during the processing the judge made utterances which clearly showed that he had taken sides in the matter.
According to him, in spite of the notices of preliminary objection raised by him and the 3rd defendant challenging the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court to hear this matter, the applications are yet to be taken by the court.
“It was evidently clear to all and sundry that His Lordship had made up his mind on what to do about this matter and taken a position on the applications challenging his jurisdiction to hear the case before commencing hearing on the said applications,”.
