By Ameh Ejekwonyilo
Abuja
Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has summoned the Governor of Imo state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, and the Attorney General of the state, Chukwuma-machukwu Ume, to appear before it over a suit seeking the governor’s removal from office over his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In the suit filed through its counsel, Victor Odjemu, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is praying the court for an order directing the deputy governor of House of Assembly or any officer next in line to the position of the governor of Imo, who is a member of the plaintiff (APGA) to be sworn-in as the governor of amongst other reliefs.
However, the suit was yesterday stalled due to the misunderstanding between the counsels over legal representation.
At yesterday’s proceedings, Sunday Olabode on behalf of Theolice Solicitors announced appearance for Okorocha while Niyi Akintola also said he was formally instructed by Governor Okorocha to represent him in the suit.
Olabode said he was asked by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in a letter in January 2014, to handle the case for the defendants.
On his part, Akintola presented to the court a copy of a letter from Governor Okorocha instructing him to handle the matter on his behalf.
He told the court that Okorocha said he should represent him “because the matter is personal and not the Imo state government that was sued.”
Ruling on the issue, Justice Mohammed said: “At the last adjournment, today was meant for the counsel who had announced appearances for the 1st defendant (Okorocha) to address the court, but from what is happening in court today, the issue of legal representation for the 1st defendant is far from being resolved.
“In view of this, I hereby direct that the 1st defendant and the Attorney General of Imo state should appear in court on the next date of adjournment to clear the air on the dispute.”
The matter was then adjourned to July 3, for Okorocha and the AGF of Imo state to appear in court.