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Federal High Court Begins Trial On Suit Filed Against Senator Abiola Ajimobi

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A suit filed by Mr Michael Akinyele, an All Progressives Congress chieftain in Ekiti State against the former Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, over his appointment as the Deputy National Chairman (South) by the National Working Committee of the party has commenced in the Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.

The suit with registration number FHC/AD/C8/8/2020 filed by one of the aspirants for the seat and APC chairman in Ado Ekiti Local Government, was contending the appointment of Ajimobi by the party’s NWC.

Joined in the suit are APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole(1st respondent), National Working Committee (2nd), National Vice Chairman, South West(3rd), APC South-West Zonal Caucus(4th), Ekiti State Chairman of APC (5th, Ekiti State Caucus of APC(6th), All Progressives Congress (7th) and Senator Abiola Ajimobi(8th).

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The seat became vacant following the appointment of Otiba Niyi Adebayo as a Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, which raised thoughts that the position should be zoned to Ekiti State and Senator Gbenga Aluko should be allowed to fill the space.

Oshiomhole, Ajimobi and other respondents, with the exception of 5th and 6th respondents were absent in court on Wednesday but they were represented by their Lawyer, Chief Tony Adeniyi.

Akinyele in a suit filed by his lawyer, Taiwo Omidoyin, sought an interlocutory order stopping the party from either announcing or appointing Ajimobi pending the determination of the suit.

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He urged the court to restrain the 8th respondent (Ajimobi) from parading himself as the Deputy National Chairman.

Akinleye urged the court to determine among other things whether his rights had not been abridged as an aspirant looking up to elect the Deputy National Chairman before Ajimobi was suddenly imposed.

Adeniyi in the preliminary objection contended that the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the matter and that the suit is dismissed on this premise.

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The hearing of the preliminary objection could not be argued because the lawyer to the applicant said he had not been properly served to be able to respond appropriately.

Omidoyin argued that he needed some time to file a counter affidavit to the Notice of Preliminary objection raised by the respondents.

“We are seeking for time to react appropriately to all the issues raised therein.

“All we are praying for is time to react appropriately. The reason why we didn’t react to them was that we were not sure about who is representing the 5th and 6th respondents/defendants in the case and now that we have got the clarification, we can now respond.”

“Another confusion is that Chief Adeniyi didn’t respond to our originating summons. We are confused about the cause, maybe it was an omission or whether he was not served”.

The counsel to the respondents didn’t object to adjournment sought by the counsel to the applicant.

The presiding Judge, Justice U. N. Agoma in her brief ruling adjourned the case to March 23 for the hearing of the pending applications.