A Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Thursday ordered that hearing notices be served on two petitioners by substituted means in the suit for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recall.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan has been at loggerheads with the Senator President, Godswil Akpabio after accusing him of sexual harassment and accused of violating Senate rules. 

The judge, Justice Isa Dashen, gave the order after granting the application or exparte motion raised by the plaintiffs through their counsel, Dr Ehiogie West-Idahosa, SAN.

The plaintiffs, Anebe Jacob-Ogirima, John Adebisi, Musa Siyaka-Adeiza, Ahmed Usman and Maleek Yahaya, on March 20 obtained an exparte motion preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission from receiving any recall petition against Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The same court, on March 24, vacated the ex-parte order following an application filed by INEC, which said that a person or institution could stop it from carrying out its constitutional duties.

On that same day, March 24, some constituents from the Kogi Central Senatorial District presented their petition for the recall of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan from the National Assembly.

Though that petition had been declared incompetent, null and void by INEC, the plaintiffs in the case insisted on going on with their case by joining two of the petitioners, Salihu Habib and Charity Omole as defendants in the case.

Mr West-Idahosa, represented by Smart Nwachimere, said that the petitioners were among those who signed the petition against Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The counsel told the court that he tried all he could to serve the two petitioners with the originating summons and hearing notices but to no avail.

He stated, “My lord, we have an application seeking for an order to serve both Habib and Omole but failed to serve them personally. The bailiff of this court can testify to the fruitless efforts made to serve them personally. Therefore, we hope your lordship will consider our application and grant as prayed.

“An order of this honourable court granting leave to plaintiffs/applicants to serve the motion for joinder and accompanying documents including the originating summons in this suit on Habib and Omole at their various addresses. An order of this honourable court deeming the said substituted service of pasting as proper service when effected, assessed fees having been paid.”

INEC Counsel, Abdullahi Aliyu-Ibrahim, SAN, represented by E.A. Osayemi. did not object to the application moved by plaintiffs.

He said. “My Lord, we are not objecting because it has nothing to do with us. INEC has thrown out that petition which brought about this case and as such we have no reason why this matter should continue. Left for us, they should just withdraw the case since the petition filed before us is dead already.”

Justice Dashen after listening to their arguments allowed the application and ordered that the two petitioners, Habib and Omole should be served through substituted means.

He then adjourned the case to May 8 for hearing. 

(NAN)