Court dismisses case

Akure High Court has dismissed the lawsuit filed by the Ondo State Government and Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu regarding the compilation of the record of appeal.

The lawsuit centred on alleged infringement of the claimants’ rights during the settlement and compilation process for the appeal filed by the deputy governor.

The claimants, represented by their counsel, had taken the legal action against four registrars of the High Court, the Deputy Governor, the House of Assembly, the Speaker of the House, and the Chief Judge of Ondo State.

They contended that the procedure for settling and compiling the record of appeal would violate their rights.

The case was brought before Justice D.I. Kolawole, where the claimants’ counsel made an application to withdraw the suit, claiming that subsequent events had rendered the lawsuit unnecessary.

However, counsel representing the deputy governor opposed the oral application to withdraw, arguing that both parties had already filed a defence and a counterclaim, thereby joining the issues at hand.

In his ruling, the judge held that the rules of the court permit the claimants to withdraw the suit and it was accordingly struck out.

Counsel for the deputy governor then urged the court to direct parties to maintain the status quo in order to preserve the subject matter of the suit pending before the court.

The application was opposed by the counsel representing the House of Assembly.

Ruling on the application, the court directed all parties to to maintain the peace and adjourned the case till November 22 for hearing of applications.