Posted by By CHUKS ONUOHA, Umuahia on
A High Court in Umuahia, Abia State capital, presided over by Justice Onuoha Ogwe has granted an interim injunction, restraining the administrative panel set up by the Federal Government from inviting the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) candidates purportedly indicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to appear before it.
A High Court in Umuahia, Abia State capital, presided over by Justice Onuoha Ogwe has granted an interim injunction, restraining the administrative panel set up by the Federal Government from inviting the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) candidates purportedly indicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to appear before it.
The court also granted leave to the applicants to enforce their fundamental human rights and to restrain all the respondents, which include EFCC, Secretary to the Federal Government, the Attorney General of the Federation, Inspector General of Police, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and chairman and secretary of the panel from considering or acting on the purported letter of indictment.
The counsel representing the presidential standard bearer of PPA and Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and nine others purportedly indicted by the EFCC, Livi Uzoukwu (SAN), in an interview, said that there was no allegation of criminality contained in the said letter against the applicants.
He said that it was wrong to set up a panel to investigate an already established indictment, adding that it was an embarrassment on the country's rule of law. He also said that the legality of the administrative panel headed by a senior advocate of Nigeria was in doubt following the manner of the proceedings, which, he argued, had no reason to sit in camera.
Answering question on whether the chairman of the panel will obey the court order, Uzoukwu said that as a lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), he would not contemplate disobeying court of competent jurisdiction. He stated that it was painful that some lawyers allow themselves to be used in truncating democracy and the rule of law.
According to him, this is contrary to what obtains in the civilized countries of the world.