The adjournment followed a request by the lead Counsel to Hon Ihedioha, Chief Kanu Agabi SAN, for time to study a process served on him today inside the court.
Agabi said while addressing the Court; “My lords, this matter was adjourned for hearing for today, but we were just served in this courtroom with a process from the 1st and 2nd Respondents/Appellants
“If it is convenient to your lordships, permit us to come back tomorrow (Tuesday), so that we can take a look at this process.”
In the application filed on February 6, 2020, former Governor Ihedioha is asking the Supreme Court to set aside its judgment sacking him as governor on the grounds that the judgment was a nullity and was procured based on fraud.
When the case came up on February 18, Ihedioha’s lead Counsel, Chief Agabi SAN, asked for a short adjournment to enable him respond to the process of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Governor Hope Uzodinma, being the first and second respondents in the case.
The request of Agabi was granted by the seven member panel of Justices of the Supreme Court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, by adjourning hearing to Monday, March 2, 2020.
Surprisingly, when the matter was called, Chief Agabi SAN, informed the court that he was only served inside the court with the reply of the respondents this morning and will therefore need to look at the documents to enable him respond appropriately.
Counsel to Governor Uzodinma and the APC, Mr Damian Dodo SAN and that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Tanimu Inuwa SAN indicated their readiness to proceed with the hearing, the presiding Justice of the seven member panel, Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, adjourned the case to Tuesday, March 3, 2020 as requested by the lead Counsel to Ihedioha.