The Federal High Court in Abuja has cleared the coast for definite hearing in a legal battle seeking to determine the authentic winner of the primary election of Delta South Senatorial District of Delta State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
At the center of the legal battle is the former Chairman of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC,
Prince Micheal Diden who is challenging the purported declaration of one Senator Joel Onowakpo as the winner of the primary election.
During Wednesday’s proceedings in the matter, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Bankole Joel Akomolafe, who appeared for Diden, reminded the court that the suit was slated for hearing and that he was ready to proceed.
He however noted that Barrister Habeed Lawal engaged by Senator Joel Onowakpo just served him with the statement of defence of his client and that he needed about two days to file reply.
The senior lawyer drew the attention of the court to the fact that the defence statement was filed since June 24 and wondered why it was not immediately served on him as required by law.
The presiding Judge, Justice Mohammed Garba Umar, in his intervention asked parties to allow a few days adjournment to prevent obstacles in the hearing of the matter.
Based on consensus agreement of lawyers, Justice Umar fixed July 6 for definite hearing of the suit and directed that all processes needed to be filed must be filed and exchanged before the adjourned date.
The judge ordered
