Okorocha kicks as judge allows PDP to be joined as co-defendant in his certificate of return suit

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) joinder- application requesting to be joined as the eight defendant in the suit filed by Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, over his certificate of return, has been granted.

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja, granted PDP’s application, ruling that it was safer and neater to allow the party to participate in the suit for there to be fair hearing.

Meanwhile, Okorocha, through his lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, has opposed PDP’s joinder-application filed on Wednesday, insisting that it was filed in bad faith.

He claimed that the application was brought for the purpose of truncating, delaying and frustrating the prompt hearing of the matter.

READ ALSO: ‘The evil I feared in the PDP has befallen me ten times in the APC’- Okorocha

However, Justice Abang on Thursday held that “the right to fair hearing takes precedent over all other issues. It is safer and neater to join PDP whether it is a necessary party or not.

“I have considered the well articulated and persuasive arguments by respective counsel in this suit and the judicial authorities cited by them.

“I am satisfied that this is a deserving case to join PDP to decide otherwise will amount to denial of fair hearing and any decision reached by the court will be a nullity.

Justice Abang also warned lawyers not to engage in unethical conducts that would occasion a delay in the hearing and determination of the suit.

The Judge said that the matter was time sensitive and the court would accord it expeditious hearing and would not entertain frivolous application’s for adjournments.

He adjourned the matter until May 16.

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