An Abuja Magistrate Court on Wednesday dismissed a criminal summons filed against Ikenga Ugochinyere, the spokesperson for the Coalition of United Political Parties. The summons had been initiated by Chinasa Nwaneri, an aide to Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State. The allegations in the summons were related to Ugochinyere’s claims of alleged fraud by the All Progressives Congress concerning the voter register in 18 states, including Imo State. Journalists obtained a copy of the judgment, dated January 23.
Justice M.A. Hassan of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory had previously suspended further proceedings in the case, pending the hearing of Ugochinyere’s application for judicial review. The judge granted leave to the applicant through an order for certiorari, along with a prohibition order directed against the respondents. This order prevented them, either individually or jointly, from conducting any hearings or further proceedings against Ugochinyere in the matter of Nze Chinasa Nwaneri v. Ugochinyere Ikenga, case number WZ6/CR/30/2022, or on any related facts. Additionally, the judge issued an injunction restraining the respondents from engaging in any matters that pertain to the same subject as the case.
In light of these orders from the FCT High Court, Magistrate Umah Isa Dodo acknowledged that the impact of the High Court’s ruling required him to stay proceedings. He also raised jurisdictional concerns and concluded that his court lacked the necessary jurisdiction to handle the case. Prior to this, the Magistrate had threatened to order Ugochinyere’s arrest if he failed to appear before the court, which led to the suspension of the trial after he was served with the relevant processes pending at the High Court. Efforts by J.C. Nwosu, counsel for Nwaneri, to persuade the magistrate court to continue with the hearing were met with opposition from Ugochinyere’s counsel. They contended that the magistrate court was obligated to respect the ongoing proceedings in the High Court and cease its own hearing.
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