Mary Akanbi
30th May, 2024
According to a statement obtained by Legal Daily News Blog, the Claimant’s Counsel to Nwonu Ignatius Ozoemena who was knocked down by by the convoy of the then former Speaker but who is currently the chief of staff to the Nigeria President in the person of Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila on the 17th of December 2019, along AP Petro station in Apo zone B extension Legislative quarters NEPA street road FCT-Abuja, F.I Nwodo Esq was able to secure a victory today in court. The Defence had filed a Preliminary Objection (PO) but the Claimant responded to the PO urging the court to dismiss the PO of the Defendants and assumed jurisdiction which was granted by the court.
The matter was thereby adjourned to 2nd of July, 2024 for hearing.
See the statement below;
My people join us to thank God at this preliminary stage of victory, some time ago one NGO engaged our legal services on pro bono to institute an action against the former Speaker HOR then but who is currently the chief of staff to the Nigeria President in the person of Rt Hon Bar Femi Gbajabiamila whom his convoy on 17th December 2019 knocked down Nwonu Ignatius Ozoemena along AP Petro station in Apo zone B extension Legislative quarters NEPA street road FCT-Abuja.
Having studied the brief we filed a writ of summons against the former Speaker, joining his office then, as the 2nd Defendant on 13/6/2023, the matter was assigned to FCT High Court 42 sitting at Kubwa for mention but unfortunately we couldn’t go on because of lack of service of the originating processes on the Defendants but on 9/11/2023 the court granted our application to serve the former Speaker by substituted means through his Whatsapp number and to serve the office of the speaker through his receptionist. On 18/12/2023 we got processes from the Defendants through their counsel led by Ibrahim Angulu,SAN.
The Defendants processes filled on 18/12/2023 were motion for extension of time to file their processes out of time, Defense, Preliminary Objection for court to dismiss our writ which was based on the Ground that the suit is statue -barred by reason of section 2(a) of the public officers protection Act ,Cap P41,LFN 2024. And that the Plaintiffs has not established any legal cause of action against the 1st and 2nd Defendants.
On 15/1/2024 we joined issues with the learned silk, asking the court to assume jurisdiction, dismiss the PO and determine the matter on the merit of which our applications were moved on 7/3/2024 while I represented the Claimants, Christiana Sylvester counsel in chambers of the learned silk and the court adjourned for ruling today being 30th May 2024, in the rulling court dismissed the PO of the Defendants and assumed jurisdiction while adjourned to 2/7/2024 for hearing. In all we return all glory to God almighty for victory at this stage and pray for more victory at the end of the case .