An Edo State High Court sitting in Benin has restrained the National Vice Chairman (South-South) of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Dan Orbih, and the State Secretary of the party, Hilary Otsu, from participating in the forthcoming convention of the party scheduled for October 30 and 31, 2021.
Justice Joy Okeaya-Inneh gave the interim injunction on Friday in a motion ex-parte filed by Chief Idehen Manfred Ekundayo, Mr Stanley Iduoze and Odior Omadimhe (Claimants) in the suit marked B/218/os/2021.
The court listed Hon. Samuel Saiki, Vincent Ekpomhoriri Umoru, Leslie Ebozoje, David Okoh Aigbodion (also known as Arizona) and Abdulkareem Kassim as Defendants in the suit.
Others are Kayode Ogunubi, Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide Ihama (House of Representatives member representing Oredo Federal Constituency), Mr Oduwa Igbinosun and Mr Friday Enaruna, excluding the PDP, which was also listed as 12th Defendant in the suit.
Justice Okeaya-Inneh restrained the Defendants from attending, participating or voting at the National Convention of the 12th Defendant herein to elect members of its National Working Committee, NWC or another Governing body, which Convention is fixed for the 30th and 31st of October 2021 or fixed for any other date, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice herein.
The court also granted “an order of interim injunction, directing the 12th Defendant (PDP), its servants, officers, agents, or otherwise whosoever to deny admittance to the 1st-11th Defendants at the National Convention of the 12th Defendant (PDP) scheduled for 30th and 31st October 2021 or any other day and ensure that the 1st-11th Defendants do not vote or participate in any shape or form at the National Convention of the 12th Defendants scheduled for 30th and 31st October 2021 or scheduled for any other date(s), pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice herein”.
According to the enrolment order of the court, Justice Okeaya-Inneh granted leave to the Claimants to serve the concurrent originating summons on the 12th Defendant, outside the jurisdiction of the court at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, namely at the National Headquarters of the 12th Defendant (PDP) being Plot 1970 Michael Okpara Street, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.
The court also granted leave to the Claimants/Applicants to serve the originating summons and all other accompanying processes in the suit on the 1st-11th Defendants by substituted means, to wit, by advertisement in a National Newspaper.
The court cited the salient pressing issues raised in the processes before the court and ordered an accelerated hearing of the Motion-On-Notice.
The court further directed the Bailiff of the court to effect service as a matter of urgency of “all the processes in the suit on the 1st – 11th Defendants and thereafter adjourned the hearing on the suit to November 2, 2021.
