PLATEAU: SUSPENDED LGC CHAIRMEN: HEARING OF APPLICATION FOR JOINDER, COMES UP ON MONDAY, 27TH NOVEMBER, 2023, OTHERS

By: Valentine Adese (JP),

Plateau State High Court presided over by, Hon. Justice Samchi has fixed the hearing of an Application for Joinder in Suit No: PLD/J257/2023, filed by the suspended 17 Local Government Council (LGC) Chairmen and their Councilors in Plateau State to the 27^th of November, 2023.

The Court has also fixed the hearing of the Originating Summons (OS) filed by the Claimants, challenging the powers of the State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang (Esq) for suspending them from office to the 29^th of November, 2023 for a definite hearing.

You would recall that, Six (6) months after the commencement of the hearing of the Originating Summons (OS) filed by the suspended 17 Local Government Council Chairmen and their Councilors the 1^st Defendant, Governor Caleb Mutfwang (Esq) only filed his Counter Affidavit on the 9th of November, 2023, challenging the Originating Summons, after the Court granted his Motion for Extension of Time.

You would recall that, before moving the Motion for Extension of Time, D. P. Dusu (Esq), Counsel to Governor Caleb (Esq) had informed the Court that he had also filed an Application for Joinder of another Defendant in the matter.

From the record of the case, REALITY gathered that, apart from Governor Caleb as a Defendant to the suit, the Attorney-General of the state is also a Co-Defendant.

You would also recall that REALITY had earlier reported that, during the last sitting and hearing of the matter, the Court presided over by, Hon. Justice Samchi, had allowed the Motion for Extension of Time to be moved by Dusu (Esq) since it was not being challenged by the Claimants, but adjourned the hearing of the Application for Joinder to the 27th of November 2023, since it was not ripe for hearing as the Counsel to the Claimants, T. Kekemeke (Esq) had indicated intention to challenge it.

Furthermore, that the coast became clear for the hearing of the substantive Suit, after Hon. Zulfa Bitrus Rimven (Esq), the Chairman of Langtang North LGC of Plateau State withdrew his Application for Joinder.

It is of note that the suit is now before the third Judge after it was reassigned by the Chief Judge of Plateau State.