CRS APC: Calabar High Court sets October 24 as judgment day

Emmanuel Alfred

October 24, 2022 has been set as the day when the judgement of the case involving Sen John Owan Enor against the All Progressives Congress(APC) and the Flag bearer of the 2023 Gubernatorial Elections, Sen Bassey Edet Otu will be delivered.

The matter with suit number FHC/CA/CS/95/2022 was presided by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, on Thursday, September 8, 2022,

Awa Kalu (SAN), the First Defendant, who submitted to the court, a School Leaving report and Testimonial said the Third Defendant (legal counsel to send Otu) did not attach any examination report to the counter affidavit.

“In other to clear all doubt, we draw the court’s attention to the narrative from both sides (Third and First Defendant).
The Court cannot ignore the report of the Screening Appeal Committee set up by the Third Defendant which lenses credence to the fact that, when the third defendant arrived for screening, he didn’t come with any Certificate which is contrary to the guidelines set up by the Committee”. Kalu said

He then added that the Third Defendant as an Aspirant failed to produce the primary qualifications, namely the first School Leaving Certificate, to make him eligible for screening and the court has already admitted the Screening Appeal Committe term report and exhibits which indicates without a doubt he was not fully cleared.

In his response, Mike Ozekhome, the Legal Counsel to Sen Otu said: “after all said and done, the argument is whether my client was cleared or not and we hereby submit the clearance of the different aspirants for Primary Elections of the Party”.

He further added that the clearance of the Third Defendant was to be done either by the Screening Appeal Committee of the Party and the National Working Committee of the Party. These are the two bodies saddled with the responsibility of clearing a Candidate and these evidence shows that he was rightly cleared to contest.

“We urge the court to dismiss this case, relying on all processes with ignominy as lacking in depths and breathe in favor of the third defendant(Prince Otu)”. Ozekhome said.

Justice Ojukwu, who after hearing all the submissions by both parties said they have the right to file complaints within fourteen days and decided that the judgement will be made on October 24, 2022