Senatorial election, Hon Jones Onyeriri is seeking the discontinuation of
the trial of the suit involving him, the All Progressives Congress
candidate, Chief Rochas Okorocha and six others by Honourable Justice
Taiwo Taiwo.
Onyeriri accused the Honorable Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High
Court Abuja, of bias, fearing justice won’t be served.
The PDP candidate had in a motion sworn to by his counsel, Chijoke Nzekwe
requested the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to transfer the suit
to another Judge noting that his client has lost confidence in the
ability of the Honourable Justice Taiwo Taiwo to hold the scale of justice
in the matter
Following the refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission to
grant him Certificate of Return, the APC candidate in the just concluded
National Assembly election, Rochas Okorocha approached the Federal High
Court for redress
Apart from the PDP candidate, others who were joined in the suit included:
INEC, Senator Osita Izunaso, the APGA candidate, Nwachukwu Clement
Ibeh Onyeoma and Precious Nwadike
Although the Returning Officer of the Imo West Senatorial election,
Professor Innocent Ibeawuchi declared Okorocha winner of the election he
renounced the announcement stating that he did it under duress alleging
Okorocha’s threats and intimidation
“I declared this thing before under duress; I’m still under duress
declaring this one,” Professor Innocent said.
The suit came up for hearing on Friday 5th of April 2019 before
Honourable Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Abuja Judicial Division of the
Federal High Court of Nigeria
In his application seeking the transfer of the suit the PDP candidate
alleged that in the course of the said proceedings, the Judge made
utterances which clearly showed that he had taken sides in this matter.
According to him, in spite of the Notices of Preliminary Objection
raised by the him and the 3rd defendant challenging the jurisdiction of
the Honourable Court to hear this matter the applications are yet to be
taken by the Court.
“It was evidently clear to all and sundry that His Lordship had made up
his mind on what to do about this matter and taken a position on the
applications challenging his jurisdiction to hear the case before
commencing hearing of the said applications”, the motion stated