The Federal High Court, Abuja, on
Tuesday granted the request seeking to serve court processes on Nnamdi Kanu and
the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) through substituted service.
The court, however, ordered that
other respondents in the matter, namely: the Inspector-General of Police, the
Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Attorney-General
of the Federation be served personally.
Justice B.O. Quadri gave the
order following an ex-parte application by Mr Richard Ndubuaku for an order of
court for substituted service of all the processes of the court on the
defendants by publishing them in two national newspapers.
Ndubuaku, who made the
application through his counsel, Mr Smart Iheazor, also asked the court to make
an order restraining the respondents, whether by themselves, members or agents
from disrupting the forthcoming Anambra election.
He also asked the court to make
an order restraining Kanu and all members of IPOB from interfering,
intimidating and harassing all registered and eligible voters in the Nov. 18
Anambra election.
Ndubuaku further asked the court
to prevent Kanu and IPOB from mobilising its members either by threat or undue
influence to scuttle the election, pending the determination of the originating
summons.
“From the antecedents of Kanu and
the activities of IPOB, they are capable of carrying out their threat”, he said.
“Serving the processes of this
suit on the them by publishing in two national newspapers will bring same to
their knowledge as it will be dangerous and difficult to effect personal
service on them.
“The applicant has several
businesses and business interests and houses in Onitsha and Awka with over 100
staff that will be affected if the threats of Kanu and IPOB are carried out.”
The judge, however, only granted
the order of substituted service on Kanu and IPOB, and refused all the other
reliefs sought by the applicant and asked that all parties in the suit be put
on notice.
He adjourned the matter to
October 10 for hearing.
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