Counsel to the Inspector General of Police and three others in the on-going 10,000 police Constables recruitment saga, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN) on Monday threatened to withdraw from the case if denied the opportunity of presenting his case properly.
Iziyon made the threat to withdraw at the federal high court, Abuja at the resumed hearing of the suit marked FHC/ABJ/05/1124/19, which is being handled by Justice Inyang Ekwo
The Police Service Commission (PSC) had instituted a case against the IGP and three others, alleging that the Police boss, Mohammed Adamu and other Defendants in the suit had usurped the power of the commission.
When the case came up yesterday, the senior lawyer told the court that his team has concluded the filing process and that they have equally been served the counter affidavit and the preliminary objection.
“We have rights of reply and it is incumbent on us to do the needful but hopefully, we are going to finalize it” he explained.
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While making his own arguments, Barth Ogar who held brief for Kanu Agabi (SAN) lamented that the Inspector General of Police has flouted the court order that Status quo be maintained by releasing the list of the candidates for the recruitment exercise.
He said, “The IGP has flouted the court order that status quo be maintained, nevertheless we have filed necessary application hoping that all process filed in respect of the matter would be adopted”.
Meanwhile, a mild drama played out in the courtroom when Izinyon, threatened to withdraw from the case.
According to him, the Judge has not given him the expected space to give more insight into the scenario, maintaining that already short-listing has been carried out in respect of the exercise.
He said, “My Lord, you are giving the other counsel opportunity to speak but you are depriving me each time I tried to say that. I was trying to let you know that short-listing has been done but you won’t hear me out,”
Giving his ruling on the matter, Justice Inyang Ekwo said, having agreed on a new date for continuation of hearing, I hope all parties would be ready for hearing.
“The next hearing is hereby slated for November 11, 2019, and by that time, the taking of preliminary objections would also be done and I expect all parties to be present and still maintain the status quo,” Ekwo ruled.
Ekwo had at the last hearing made an order that all parties should stay within the bounds of the law by maintaining the status quo until the matter is decided.
