The Warri Justice and Truth Forum, a prominent pressure group, has petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, over what it alleges to be an attempt by certain individuals from the Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State to have the High Court hear an appeal on a Supreme Court judgment.
In a statement released in Lagos, signed by Comrade Arerebo Egbejule (President), French Ikada (Secretary), and Kenneth Ikoro (Public Relations Officer), the group voiced concerns about efforts to obstruct the implementation of the Supreme Court’s decision in Appeal No. SC/413/2016: Hon. George U. Timinimi & Ors vs INEC, delivered on December 2, 2022.
The group claimed that, since the judgment, representatives of an ethnic interest within the Warri Federal Constituency have sought injunctions from various Federal High Court divisions to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from executing the Supreme Court’s ruling.
On May 3, 2024, the Trustees of Ugbarajo Iwere Leaders Foundation filed Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/46/2024 in the Federal High Court, Warri Judicial Division, seeking an interim injunction to halt INEC’s new delineation process. However, the court, presided over by Justice I. M. Sani, was informed of the Supreme Court’s order and the application was rejected on May 23, 2024, following interventions from interest groups led by the Ijaws and Urhobos.
Undeterred, the same group pursued another interim order on July 2, 2024, from the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/443/2024: Hon. Afejuku Appearance & Ors V. INEC, aiming to restrain INEC from proceeding with the delineation of new wards and polling units in Warri Federal Constituency, as mandated by the Supreme Court.
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The Warri Justice and Truth Forum’s petition to the Chief Judge underscores their commitment to upholding the Supreme Court’s ruling and preventing further legal maneuvers that could delay its implementation.
