Paschal Emeka, Abuja
An Abuja High Court has on Thursday suspended a criminal summon filed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Imo State, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere.
Ugochinyere is the opposition Spokesperson and Ideato House of Representatives PDP candidate in the 2023 general election.
The criminal summons was instituted by Mr. Chinasa Nwaneri, Personal Assistant on Special Duties to Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State but Justice Hassan of FCT Federal High Court granted a restraining order and stay of the proceedings of the magistrate court pending the hearing of the application for judicial review filed by Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere.
According to Court documents obtained by our Correspondent, Justice Hassan said that the ‘prayer seeking leave to Mr. Ugochinyere to seek certain orders by way of an order for certiorari including an order of prohibition was a normal judicial procedure.”
The court held that: “This Court hereby directs against the respondents by themselves or acting jointly or through agents, prohibiting them from conducting any hearing or further proceedings against the Applicant in the matter of Nze Chinasa Nwaneri vs Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu in case no. WZ6/CR/30/2022.”
The Court also restrained the conduct of criminal proceedings against the respondent directly or through proxies in the matter.
Speaking with Ugochinyere on the Court ruling, he claimed that he was being prosecuted for exposing the fake registration of voters in Imo State.
“There have been attempts to silence me since I made revelations about the voter register compromise popularly referred to as ‘Omuma Magic’ wherein it was discovered that millions of fake registrations took place in at least 18 states of the federation”, adding he would seek damages for spitefully dragging his name.
“I will seek an award of the sum of N50, 000,000 only against the Respondents jointly and severally as general damages for the unlawful prosecution, humiliation, and embarrassment caused me and my business.