A five member panel of the Supreme Court Justices, in an unanimous judgement read by Justice Kekere Ekun, Tuesday November 8, 2022 struck out an application filed before the Court by Mr Aniekan Etim, seeking to be joined in the certificate forgery case between Akan Okon vs Pastor Umo Eno for lack of merit.
After being described as “a meddlesome interloper and a busy body, who is pursuing his own cause in another man’s suit” by Justice Agatha Okeke of the Federal High Court, Uyo, Mr Etim, a PDP aspirant who never participated in the party primary suffered setback when he earlier approached the Appeal Court sitting in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, Monday September 26th.
The sponsored “Meddlesome interloper and busy body” was seeking to be joined in the suit challenging the authenticity of the 1981 and 1983 WAEC certificate of the Akwa Ibom State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Governorship Candidate for 2023 election, Pastor Umo Eno.
It should be recalled that Justice Agatha Okeke had in her ruling on July 29, 2022, held that Etim was not a necessary party, saying that for a person to be joined in the suit as a necessary party, his interest must align with the interest of the defendants.
But in the instant case, the applicant, Mr. Aniekan Etim, who is seeking to be joined in the suit, is also seeking the cancellation of the PDP governorship primary.
But after having his application dismissed for “lacking in merit”, Mr. Aniekan Etim proceeded to the Appeal Court, Calabar.
Mr Etim through his Counsel, Etang Agabi, Esq, said he was dissatisfied with the ruling of the lower court in Suit No: FHC/UY/CS/110/2022.
The suit has Mr. Akan Okon, PDP, Pastor Umo Eno and INEC as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Respondents respectively.
However the Supreme Court sitting in Abuja has upheld the ruling of the of the Appeal court, and again dismissed the suit for lacking merit.
