The Supreme Court has dismissed an application filled by a factional leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ali-Modu Sheriff, asking the court not to hear a motion by his challenger, Ahmed Makarfi.
Sheriff had asked the court to refuse hearing on the application filed by Makarfi,challenging the February the 17th judgement of the Appeal Court in Port Harcourt which made Sheriff leader of the party.
At the opening of the hearing on Monday, Sheriff’s lawyer, Akin Olujimi, said the application was an abuse of court process because Makarfi ought to have requested the leave of court before making the application.
Responding, Makarfi’s lawyer, Wole Olanikpekun, prayed the court to disregard the argument of Olujimi, describing them as baseless.
In a short ruling on the application, a five-member panel led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, said the application by Makarfi was considered valid since it complied with the rules of the Supreme Court.
He therefore gave a unanimous ruling in favour of the Makarfi faction, and awarded an unstated cost against the faction led by Sheriff.
