Lawsuit to Address Abuse of Local Government System in Benue Commences; Adjourned 11 December for Hearing

The lawsuit _Sesugh Akume v Governor of Benue and 4 Others_ (MHC/346/2023) commended today before the Honourable Mr Justice Polycarp Kwahar (Court 6).

The matter today was first to consider the motion (MHC/1982M/2023) for accelerated hearing for the court to set aside its normal protocol and procedures and to hear and determine the substantive matter of the abuse of the local government system and the planned appointment of illegal, unconstitutional caretaker administrations in local governments in Benue after the unlawful, unconstitutional suspension of elected local government officials.

Our matter was assigned to the present court, and today’s date set by the court exactly a week ago, on 2  November. On that very same day all respondents were served all the processes.

As anticipated, the reply by the respondents to our application was only served on us today in court. Seeing no wisdom in asking the court for time to file a response to their counter for the court to rule on the motion on another date, learned counsel Atume Butu, Esq., voluntarily withdrew the application, to save time.

The court has given 11 December for (final) hearing/adoption of the substantive matter, when it expects all processes to be filed and exchanged awaiting adoption on that date and next will be the judgement.

The claim by the Benue attorney-general (himself who represented the respondents along with a large retinue of lawyers) that they had not been served the originating processes in the substantive matter was discountenanced by the trial judge who confirmed from court records before him that they were indeed served the processes with evidence of acknowledgement.

With this and other excuses and delay tactics out of the way, we look forward to receiving whatever defence they might have and to reply and exchange all processes before 11 December for adoption and to await the judgement.

Sesugh Akume

Abuja