The Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, on Tuesday adjourned hearing on the suit, challenging the validity on the All Progressive Congress (APC) Congress in the state.
Justice Lewis Allagoa granted the plaintiffs’ motion for substituted service on the defendants.
The defendants include the APC National Organizing Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, the state Chairman of the party, Dr. Hilary Eke and others.
The case was adjourned till June 22 to enable the court effect substituted service on the defendants.
The plaintiffs’ counsel, Chidozie Ogundu, had raised motion exparte for an order of the court to serve the defendants by substituted service.
The justice had last Friday issued an interim order restraining the APC or its cronies and representatives from conducting congress by maintaining “status quo anti bellum.”
In the suit FHC/OW/CS/69/2018, Allagoa, also urged the legal practitioners handling the case to apply professional dexterity to ensure there were no lapses and undue delays recorded.
Chidozie Ogunji led team of lawyers appeared for the plaintiffs while Soronnadi Njoku, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Imo State, appeared for the defendants.
The court had earlier granted an order of interim injunction “restraining the defendants, their privies, servants, agents or any one acting on their behalf or any organ of the APC from holding a Local Government Area congress of the party or any other congress in Imo State pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”
