Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has fixed December 20 for the hearing and adoption of written addresses in a suit filed by All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Nyesom Wike, councils chairmen and Inspector General of Police over Executive Order 21 and 22 signed by the governor.
When the matter resumed, yesterday, counsel for APC, Collins Dike, informed the court he had served all the defendants but was yet to receive any feedback from them.
On his part, the counsel for the Nigerian Police and the Inspector General of Police acknowledged receipt of service but requested more time to enable him respond to the court process, a request that was not objected to by the APC counsel and was granted by the court.
The presiding judge, Justice Emmanuel Obile, after listening to presentations by counsels, adjourned till December 20 for hearing and adoption of addresses.
Dike, speaking outside the courtroom, said his client was in court to challenge the legality and constitutionality of Executive Orders by Wike, which, he said, is against the fundamental rights of his client.
“We are of the view that those instruments (Executive Orders) of the governor are unlawful, clearly contrary to the provisions of the Constitution and also contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act,” he said.
However, the counsel for the Nigeria Police declined comments on the proceedings of the court.
