PLATEAU: BREAKING: SUSPENDED 17 LGC CHAIRMEN HAVE SERVED AMENDED PROCESSES IN SUIT NO: PLD/J257/2023 ON SPEAKER, ASSEMBLY, AS ORDERED BY COURT

By: Valentine Adese (JP),

The 17 Local Government Council (LGC) Chairmen in Plateau State and their Councilors suspended by Governor Caleb Mutfwang (Esq), have served their amended processes in suit No: PLD/J257/2023 on the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and the House of Assembly, as directed by the Plateau State High Court presided over by Hon. Justice Samchi.

The Speaker of the Assembly and the House itself are now joined as the 3^rd and 4^th Defendants in the suit as directed by the Plateau State High Court.

REALITY gathered from our reliable source that the amended process where served in the office of the Speaker and on the officer that receives mails and other processes of such on Monday, the 4^th of December, 2023.

From the Order of the Court, the 3^rd and 4^th Defendants have less than a week to respond to the processes and file same, as the matter would be come up for hearing on the 22^nd of December, 2023.

You would recall that, REALITY had reported that the Plateau State High Court presided over by Hon. Justice Samchi, had ordered the joining of the Plateau State House of Assembly and its Speaker, in Suit No: PLD/J257/2023, filed by the suspended 17 Local Government Chairmen of Plateau State and their Councilors, as 3^rd and 4^th Defendants.

You would also recall that the 1^st and 2^nd Defendants have been the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang (Esq), and the Attorney-General of the State since the hearing of the suit commenced.

In its Order, the Court had directed that the Originating Summons, and the Preliminary Objections (POs), among other processes already filed in the matter, be amended, and serve on all parties before the 5^th of December 2023.

The Court further ordered that the process should be served on the Clerk of the Plateau State House of Assembly, and if he is not there, on his staff in the office or any worker in the Assembly that has the competence of being served.

Alternatively, when it fails, it should be pasted on the gate or Notice Board of the Assembly complex. This was owing to a piece of unconfirmed information reaching the Court that the Members of the House of Assembly are currently on a two-month recess and the workers of the Assembly are also on strike.

REALITY has also reported that the Plateau State High Court presided over by Hon. Justice Samchi, had refused and dismissed the Application for Joinder filed by Hon. Daniel Kunmi, the Transition Committee Chairman appointed by Caleb Mutfwang (Esq), the Governor of Plateau State for, Mikang Local Government Council (LGC) in Suit No: PLD/J257/2023, filed by the suspended 17 Local Government Council (LGC) Chairmen of the state.

According to the Court, after listening to the Application moved by the Counsel to the Defendants and the Counter moved and argued by T. Kekemeke (Esq) the Counsel to the Claimants in the Suit, the presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Samchi, held that, Hon. Daniel Kunmi is not a necessary party to be joined, as he only has “Mere Interest” on the outcome of the Suit and that there is no relief by the Claimants being sort against him from the 5 reliefs before the Court.