The absence of Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has stalled the hearing of a motion challenging the court’s jurisdiction in the suit filed by former Imo Governor, Rochas Okorocha, against the state government and others.

The matter, which was for mention on the cause list, could not proceed on Tuesday because of the judge’s absence. The case was, however, fixed for June 7 for mention.

The defence in the suit, including Eze Duri-Ihuoma, who is the 44th defendant, had challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.

Mr Duri-Ihuoma had on September 22, 2021, said that the suit filed by Mr Okorocha did not disclose any reasonable cause of action, hence, the court lacked jurisdiction to hear it.

“The applicant (Okorocha) is claiming that because the EFCC is investigating him, the state government should fold its hands and not probe him.

“That is alien. Some of us had also argued that the former governor was simply saying, ‘extend my immunity.’

“But his immunity ended when he left office and he wants that immunity extended,” he told journalists.

The lawyer said he was hopeful that the suit would be dismissed because it lacked merit.

Mr Okorocha, representing Imo West at the National Assembly, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/558/2020 filed on May 28, 2020, had urged the court to restrain the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and others from probing him.

While the EFCC is the first respondent, the second to 48th respondents are the Attorney General (AG) of Imo and members of the seven panels set up to probe previous administrations in the state.

Mr Okorocha had, on June 29, 2021, urged the court to make an order setting aside the seizures and sealing of some of his property by the state government.

The judge, on August 11, 2021, declined Mr Okorocha’s application seeking to stop the Imo State Government from taking further steps concerning his property on the grounds that the jurisdiction of the court had been challenged.

(NAN)