The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the suit filed against Professor Pat Utomi, concerning his plan for a shadow government, to July 10, while cautioning parties in the suit to desist from acts capable of jeopardizing the outcome of the suit.
According to law, the trial Judge Justice James Omotosho noted, once parties are aware of the pendency of a suit, they should refrain from taking any further steps that would affect the outcome of the suit.
The judge’s caution follows a complaint made by plaintiff’s lawyer Akinlolu Kehinde, who sought an order for the maintenance of the status quo because there have been new developments since the suit was filed.
According to the trial Judge, such an order was unnecessary since the parties were all aware of the pendency of the suit.
Justice Omotosho, who said he would not grant any interlocutory restraining orders, went on to grant an accelerated hearing and elected to hear the main suit together with the preliminary objection raised by the defendant.
The judge informed parties that he has extended invitations to seven senior lawyers, drawn from the six geo-political zones, to act as amici curiae, (Friends of the court) to furnish the court with their legal opinions on the case, noting that his decision to seek opinions from seasoned law experts was due to the novel nature of the suit.
The judge identified those invited to include former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joseph Daudu (SAN), Professor Ademola Popoola of the Obafemi Awolowo University, and the Vice-Chancellor of the Imo State University (IMSU), Professor Uchefula Ugonna Chukwumaeze.
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Others are Professor Dakas C. J. Dakas (SAN), former Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Jos; Joe Kyari Gadzama (SAN), Mrs. Miannaya Essien (SAN), and the immediate past President of the NBA, Yabubu Maikyau (SAN).
Justice Omotosho said lawyers to the parties would be served with the opinions of the amici curiae to enable them to react, and then adjourned for hearing of the substantive suit and the preliminary objection.
The State Security Services had asked the Court to restrain a former presidential candidate, Patrick Utomi, from holding any rally to propagate his so-called shadow government and shadow cabinet plans
Utomi, a professor of political economy, has been a vocal critic of the Bola Tinubu administration and its policies, particularly as it relates to the economy which he (Utomi) blames for the worsening poverty and rising cost of living.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
