THE SUMMONS OF CUPP’S SPOKESMAN IS DISMISSED BY THE COURT.

An Abuja Magistrate Court on Wednesday dismissed a criminal summons issued by Chinasa Nwaneri, an aide to Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, against the Coalition of United Political Parties’ spokesperson, Ikenga Ugochinyere.

The allegations in the summons were based on Ugochinyere’s revelation of an alleged fraud by the All Progressives Congress in the voter register in 18 states, including Imo State.

Journalists obtained a copy of the January 23 judgment on Wednesday.

Justice M. A Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory High Court had suspended further proceedings in the case pending the hearing of Ugochinyere’s judicial review application.

The judge granted leave to the applicant in the form of an order for certiorari, which included an order prohibiting the respondents from conducting any hearing or further proceedings against the applicant in the matter of Nze Chinasa Nwaneri v Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu, case No. WZ6/CR/30/2022, or on any facts constituting the same subject matter as that case.

He also granted an injunction restraining each of the respondents, individually, jointly, or through agents, from engaging in any matter whose subject matter is the same as the case.

Based on the FCT High Court’s orders, Magistrate Umah Isa Dodo agreed that the impact of the High Court’s order was that he should stay proceedings, but went on to raise jurisdiction issues and determined that his court lacked the necessary jurisdiction to hear the case.

The Magistrate had previously threatened to arrest Ugochinyere if he did not appear before him before being served with the processes pending at the High Court, which warranted the trial’s suspension.

Efforts by J. C. Nwosu, counsel for Nwaneri, to persuade the Magistrate Court to hear the case were met with opposition from counsel for Ugochinyere.

They contended that the Magistrate Court was required by law to respect the High Court’s decision and halt its own proceedings.