UCHE OGBUAGU’S PETITION SUFFERS SETBACK AS COURT STRIKES OUT THEIR MOTION OF INTERROGATORIES *

 *UCHE OGBUAGU’S PETITION SUFFERS SETBACK AS COURT STRIKES OUT THEIR MOTION OF INTERROGATORIES *

Irobi Darlington 

Obazu Mbieri 

22/7/23

Pre-hearing proceedings continued today into the suit filled by Mr. Uche Ogbuagbu, the Labour Party candidate for the House of Representatives election in Mbaitoli/Ikeduru, with the judge touching on what transpired during the last sitting where he reprimanded and educated Uche Ogbuagu's lawyer on legal proceedings.

Ogbuagu's lawyers for fear of the unknown and implication, withdrew their previous motion following the lack of proper service of their suit on the third Respondent, Hon. Engr Akarachi Amadi. 

Ogbuagu's lawyer probably saw that pursuing that line, for which had earlier been lectured and reprimanded by the judge, could cause a reservice of the trial which might not meet the 180 deadline as stipulated by law.

However, yet again, the Judge/Chairman of the Tribunal scolded Ogbuagu’s lawyers and I quote “I HAVE TOLD YOUR CHAMBERS TO BE CAREFUL OF THE LANGUAGE YOU USE IN COURT.

The one that broke the Carmel’s back was when the motion for interrogatories as filed by Ogbuagu’s team was struck out by the judge who only granted them in accordance with the law, the permission to inspect election polling unit material.

Let us recall that section 146 of the 2022 Electoral Act  grants every contestant or party in an election, the right to inspect electoral materials unlike what was peddled by Ogbuagu's supporters who saw it as a win. It’s not worth the writings and jubilations by those who have no iota of knowledge about the law and court proceedings.

I almost didn’t want to react to their writings, but for the sake of keeping the spirit of ndi Mbaike as high as it has been over the victory God gave to their son and brother, Hon. Akarachi through them, I have to ask them to disregard such unfounded and uneducated writings peddled by those whose back are already on the ground  in a battle they long lost by the pronouncement of the Mbaike Federal House of Representative election result by the umpire, INEC on the 16th April, 2023.