S/West PDP crisis: Ogundipe exco asks court to halt hearing

The Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe-led SouthWest Zonal Executive of the PDP has asked the Court of Appeal, sitting in Ado Ekiti, to halt hearing of an application for a stay of execution brought before it by the Eddy Olafeso-led faction of the party.

In a letter dated November 30, 2017, addressed to the presiding justice of the Court of Appeal, Ado Ekiti Division and made available to newsmen yesterday in Abuja, the Ogundipe-led exco said at no time were they served with a notice of appeal.

The letter reads in part, “As the matter stands, the 1st to 5th respondents - Ogundipe, Pegba Otemolu, Lanre Orimoloye, Supo Ijabadeniyi and Femi Carenna - have not been served with the notice of appeal and I have been advised that the notice of appeal, being an originating process, ought to be served on us personally.

“Secondly, the implication of fixing the case for Monday (today) having served its former counsel at about 4pm on Thursday, 30th November, 2017 is that the 1st to 5th respondents would be unable to brief a lawyer to file any response to the two motions before they come up for hearing before this honourable court.

“The hearing of the appellants’ motions on the 4th of December, 2017 (today) in the present circumstances would definitely violate the 1st and 5th respondents’ right to fair hearing.

“It is in the light of the foregoing that I humbly request that you use your good offices to have the hearing adjourned to another date to enable the 1st to 5th respondents instruct counsel and be prepared for the hearing.”