Symbol of justice

By Akinwale Akintunde 
Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Phillips has recalled the case file of the suit filed by Mr. Yinka Farounbi, contesting the outcome of the May 9 election of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja.

The suit which had been adjourned for hearing failed to hold yesterday as the trial judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke, disqualified self from further hearing of the suit.

The court registrar told the parties in the suit that the case file had been sent to the Chief Judge.

Justice Opeyemi Oke is the second trial judge to disqualify self since the trial commenced about a month ago. The first trial judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, had earlier disqualified herself from hearing the suit after complaints were made by some interested parties in the case.

Justice Taiwo had at the commencement of the trial granted the prayer of Farounbi and restrained  the electoral committee and the NBA Ikeja chairman from swearing in the newly elected officers elected on May 9.

The judge had said the order of the court would subsist pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed by Farounbi.

Justice Taiwo had also ordered the elected officers to stop parading themselves as officers-elect of the NBA Ikeja Branch pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

At the last hearing, Justice Oke had ordered all the parties to maintain status quo and adjourned to enable them file their preliminary objections and reply on point of law to the originating summons of the claimant.

In the main time, no date has been fix for continuation of hearing in the matter but parties are anxiously waiting.