Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 27, 2023 for hearing in a contentious legal action seeking the exit of the Igbo nation out of Nigeria.
The suit instituted by a group of Kano elders led by Nastura Ashir Shariff, was fixed for hearing by Justice Ekwo, following confirmation by the plaintiffs that four more groups have filed different applications to join in the suit.
The Judge, however, said that the contending various applications by interest groups seeking to join the suit would first be resolved to determine the actual number of groups to be listed either as plaintiffs or defendants.
During the proceedings, counsel to the Kano elders group, Mr. Suleiman Idrees, told the Judge that four other groups have served him with different motions seeking to be joined in the legal action.
He hinted that the plaintiffs would not object to the joinder applications so as to fast track the hearing and determination of the suit of his clients.
In a brief ruling, Justice Ekwo ordered all parties involved to file and exchange all necessary processes two days to the adjourned date.
The Judge threatened that any counsel who seeks to hinder hearing through an untenable excuse would be penalized.
The Kano Elders had dragged the National Assembly, AGF and others before the court asking for an order to compel the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives to hasten the exit of the southeast before concluding on-going amendment to the country’s constitution.
The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/538/2021 is instituted by Nastura Ashir Shariff, Balarabe Rufa’I, Abdul-Aziz Sulaiman and Aminu Adam.
The defendants are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the National Assembly.
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