Anambra Tribunal Chairman’s Health Stalls Sitting
Joe Chukwudi, Awka , Apr 19 2010 03:35pm
A list of Court Documents Filled by Ngige and Peter Obi [CLICK TO VIEW]:
Peter Obi's reply to Ngige's petition
The ill health of the chairman of the Anambra State Elections tribunal, Hon Justice Pius Dafuas Damulak has caused the adjournment of the tribunal which scheduled yesterday (Monday) as resumption date in the determination of the fate of the Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi in office over the 6th February Election.
The Tribunal had adjourned shortly before the swearing in of the Mr. Peter Obi in February after ruling in his (Obi's) favour in a petition brought before the tribunal against Obi by the Hope Democratic Party, urging that the state Chief Judge be restrained from swearing in Obi on 6th February.
The resumption date which has been eagerly awaited by some of the litigants, their counsels and supporters turned sour when at about 9:30am the tribunal secretary announced to the lawyers who were already at the bar awaiting the arrival of the judges at the bench that the tribunal would not longer hold as a result of the health condition of the tribunal chairman.
Though the secretary refused to disclose the nature of the sickness, he latter told some top lawyers that the tribunal chairman, Hon Justice Damulak has taken ill and would not be able to discharge his functions until Wednesday.
Ukpakareports.com learnt that the other four judges who are members of the tribunal though healthy refused to show up as they out of sympathy for their chairman decided to call off sitting yesterday (Monday) pending when the chairman would get better.
It was however not ascertained the gravity of the illness as the tribunal secretary left almost immediately after the announcement leaving all to wonder if the chairman had arrived Awka before the illness or was still in his Plateau State where he had gone for the break.
Meanwhile, the Action Congress (AC) candidate for the last February governorship election in Anambra, Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige who was personally at the tribunal Ukpakareports.com can authoritatively report stole the show at the tribunal with stunning number of his supporters storming the Anambra Judiciary Headquarters, venue of the tribunal.
Our correspondent gathered that the supporters of the former governor decided to come en masse in anticipation that their principal's matter would be handled yesterday. It was however gathered that the Tribunal intend to reel off the time table for the sequence with which the matter would be done when in eventually sits.
Five parties and candidates in all had filed matters at the Anambra Election Tribunal, making different prayers. The parties included; Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige (AC), Chief Chris Okoli (UNPP), Barr Mike Okoye (HDP), Barr Victor Anigbata (NSDP) and Godfrey Chijioke Ndubuisi (NDP).