The pre-election legal tussle rocking the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may soon be over following an application for an out of court settlement in the suit challenging the emergence of the former Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, (now the governor elect for Benue state) as the candidate of the party.
In the suit, the plaintiffs, otherwise known as the G4 comprising Senator Joseph Waku, Prof. Steve Ugbah, Hon. Emmanuel Jime and Chief Mike Iordye specifically joined Comrade Abba Yaro, Dr. George Akume (Senate Minority Leader/State Party Leader), the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants in the suit.
When the case came up last week, counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr. Sunday Ameh (SAN) informed the court that his clients were pursuing an out of court settlement of the dispute and needed time to concretize the peaceful process.
At the last adjourned date, counsel to Ortom, Mr. Sabastine Hon (SAN) prayed the court to stay proceedings in the matter due to a pending appeal at the Court of Appeal.
In moving his application, Hon who relied on relevant legal authorities told Justice Evoh Chukwu that once a court becomes aware that an appeal is before the court of appeal, the court has no other duty than to stay proceedings on the subject matter or adjourned sine dine to await the outcome of the appeal.
Responding to the motion for stay, counsel to the plaintiffs, Ameh said although he received service of the process, he needed time to respond on the legal authorities cited by counsel to the applicant. Justice Chukwu thereafter adjourned the matter to April 15, 2015 at the instance of counsel to the plaintiff.
