From Ron-Well Jacob, Jos.
A Jos Federal High Court on Wednesday fixed July 10 to hear NFF President, Mr Amaju Pinnick’s motion challenging the ex-parte order it granted Chris Giwa following the Suprime court Judgement.
Justice Musa Kurya, the Presiding Judge in the case between Yahaya Adama and Alh. Aminu Maigari, had on June 5 made an ex-parte order asking Pinnick’s NFF leadership to vacate the Glass House for the Giwa-led executive in relation to the Supreme Court Judgement.
But Pinnick through his Counsel, Festus Keyamo (SAN), stormed the court with two motions demanding for the vacation of the order granted Giwa and Co. pending the determination of their (Pinnick’s) pending application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear Adama and Magari’s case.
Though the case was heard in the chamber, the Counsels in the matter spoke to newsmen shortly after.
Mr Festus Ukpe, who stood in for Keyamo, explained, “ we came to court to challenge the order which the court gave to Giwa led Exco.’’
“Our aim or intention was to move our two motions, but the Counsels to Adama and Ogba, Mr Habila Ardzard, opposed it on the ground that they only got possession of the motions today (Wednesday).
“We told the Judge that there was need for the court to hear these motions because of our fear of Giwa will do in these few days that he claims he has power over Glass House.
“That is why we argued that there was the need for the judge to vacate his order since we were not given fair hearing in the matter, which we are not a party to but for our interest, ’’ Ukpe said.
Ukpe said that after both sides made their submissions, the judge ruled and fixed July 10 for the hearing of the motions because of its urgency.
Also speaking on the issue, Ardzard said that they had to oppose Pinnick from moving the motions “because by law, we are entitled to seven days within which we could study the motion and reply after from the date of its receipt.’’
“We were only asked to come to court today and when we came here were told that there are two motions which Pinnick’s counsel intends to move today (Wednesday).
“Of course, we had to oppose it and the court finally ruled in our favour therefore fixed July 10 for the hearing of the motions, ;’’ Ardzard explained.
Nonetheless, the order granted Giwa subsists until Tuesday, July 10 when the motions would be heard on their merit.