A High Court sitting in Gboko, Benue state has dismissed a suit seeking to set aside the suspension of the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu as a member of the party.
Delivering judgment in the suit, the presiding judge, Justice D.M Igyuse who dismissed described it as one of the worst abuses of court processes.
The suit, filed by one Nongo Ordue on behalf of the executives of Ayu’s council ward, Igyorov in Gboko LGA of the state, sought an order to set aside the suspension of Senator Ayu from PDP.
The plaintiffs also sought an order reinstating Ayu as the National Chairman of the party amongst other prayers before the court.
Counsel to PDP, Clement Mue, in his reply to the suit, submitted that a previous judgment of the Makurdi High Court marked MHC/85/2023 had sufficiently addressed the issues raised in the present claim of the plaintiffs.
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While Mue observed that the previous suit between Utaan and Ayu had addressed the present suit, he also noted that the suit has become estoppel, pointing out that Senator Ayu had since filed a case at the Court of Appeal against the decision of the court.
The PDP Counsel argued that hearing and determining the suit would amount to sitting on an appeal against the earlier decision of the court, even as he urged the court to hold that the suit before it amounted to an abuse of court process.
The presiding judge agreed with the PDP’s counsel and struck out the suit.
(Editor: Oloyede Oworu)
