Prince Michael Ekamon, first plaintiff in a suit filed in conjunction with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers against Atiku Abubakar, has said their lawyer, Wilfred Okoi, was not in court because he was indisposed.
Ekamon told Justice Ahmed Mohammed of a Federal High Court, Abuja on Wednesday, upon resumed hearing in the suit challenging Atiku’s emergence as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s candidate for the 2023 presidential election.
Okoi, who entered his name on the cause list earlier in the day, could not be found when the matter was called for hearing. Though Ekamon was in court in person, Wike was not.
Ekamon, a member of the party, and Wike are 1st and 2nd plaintiffs respectively in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/782/22 dated June 2 and filed June 3.
While the PDP is the 1st defendant, the Independents National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Atiku are 2nd to 4th defendants respectively.
Wike, in the suit, sought among other prayers, the court’s pronouncement declaring him the PDP’s presidential candidate for the 2023 election.
He had faulted the process that produced Atiku as the party’s candidate in the primary conducted recently.
But the PDP and others, in their application filed by their counsel, Adeyemi Ajibade, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the suit as it was unknown to law and not cognizable under a pre-election matter.
When the matter was called and Okoi’s whereabouts was not known, Justice Mohammed asked Ekamon why their counsel was not in court despite entering his name for appearance.
Ekamon said Okoi “ran serious stomach upset.”
According to him, he (Okoi) was in court this morning and he complained of running stomach and he has to be rushed down for medication.I insisted that he (Okoi) stays but he said we should rush him down. We wish him quick recovery. We are all human beings and prone to getting sick at any giving time,” Mohammed said
The judge then asked him what would be his prayer since his lawyer was not in court.