The Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Monday vacated the ex-parte injunction it had granted to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on March 20.

Justice Isa Dashen, who issued the ruling, also ordered the case to proceed with an expedited hearing.

The injunction, initially granted last Thursday, had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from accepting or acting on any petition with signatures from Kogi Central Senatorial District that could trigger a recall process for Akpoti-Uduaghan.

At the hearing, INEC’s counsel, Mr. Abdullahi Aliyu (SAN), requested that the injunction be lifted, arguing that the Federal High Court did not have the jurisdiction to prevent INEC from performing its constitutional duties.

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Aliyu also sought an accelerated hearing of the case, citing a Court of Appeal ruling in the EFCC v. Bello case.

In response, the counsel for Akpoti-Uduaghan, Mr. West Idahosa (SAN), objected to the application, asserting that the court had a duty to examine potential illegality, such as forgery, raised in the case.

He argued that the court’s jurisdiction allowed it to restrain constitutional duties if such issues were validly presented.

After considering both sides, Justice Dashen ruled in favor of INEC’s application, vacating the injunction and ordering the case to be heard swiftly. The case is scheduled for hearing on April 9.

Crediblenewsng.com