The Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a case against Honourable Francis Bartholomew Chima, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Ajeromi Ifelodun Federal constituency of Lagos State, challenging his emergence as winner of the party’s primary held on May 23, 2022 in the state.
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Mrs Emilia Ezeude had approached the court challenging the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue Hon. Chima a certificate of return after the electoral appeal committee had declared her the rightful candidate of the party.
But in a judgment delivered on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 by the presiding judge, Justice T.G. Ringim, his lordship dismissed case due to the absence of the claimant, Mrs Ezeude and her counsel, having listened to the oral application of Emeka Ozoani, SAN, counsel to Hon. Chima in which they were only served with the processes of the party seeking to be joined.
Justice Ringim ordered that “In view of the absence of the claimant and her counsel and on the strength of the combined provisions of rule 8 of the Federal High Court (pre-election practice) direction 2022, and order 19 and rule 14 of the Federal High Court (civil procedure (rules 2019, this matter shall simply be struck out for want of diligent prosecution.”
