By Ameh Ejekwonyilo
President Goodluck Jonathan and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, have asked Justice Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to throw out a suit seeking to nullify the appointment of Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa as the President of the Court of Appeal.
A lawyer, Chief Nkereuwem Udofia Akpan, had approached the Court about two months ago with a suit to challenge the appointment of Justice Bulkachuwa by the National Judicial Council (NJC) and President Goodluck Jonathan.
In the suit, the lawyer asked the court to set aside the appointment of Justice Bulkachuwa.
Apart from the President and the AGF, the plaintiff also joined NJC and the Senate as defendants in the matter.
But President Jonathan and the AGF in a preliminary objection filed through their counsel, Mr. Ahmed Raji, the two respondents told the court that the suit of the plaintiff “does not disclose reasonable cause of action.”
They also argued in their objection that the plaintiff had no locus standi to institute the action.
They further submitted that the necessary parties were not before the court, adding that the plaintiff’s case was hypothetical, academic and of no practical utilitarian value.
The case was adjourned to July 3, due to the absence of the NJC in court. The court ordered that hearing notice be issued on the NJC before the next adjourned date.
