From Chuks Onuoha, Umuahia
Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice Ibrahim Autta, has reassigned the tax clearance certificate forgery case instituted against Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu by a Peoples Democratic Party chieftain,Mr. Friday Nwosu to another High Court Judge in Owerri.
He is Justice A. L. Allagoa, the presiding judge at Owerri Judicial Division of the Federal High Court.
Justice Alagoa will hear the case, conclude it and give judgment on it after his interaction with all the parties involved in the matter. This is sequel to an earlier announcement of stepping down from the matter by Justice S. M. Shuaibu at Owerri, last Thursday .
Justice Shuaibu had, in a letter he wrote to the Chief Judge, pleaded to be excused from handling the matter, following a petition which he said was written by Ikpeazu’s counsel, Joe Nkire. He alleged lack of confidence in him and alleged he had pact to give judgement to Nwosu.
The judge, however, denied ever having any pact with the plaintiff, Nwosu, as alleged and advised people who have matter in courts to have confidence in the judge handling their case. He said since the defendants did not repose any confidence in him he had no reason continuing the matter.
Daily Sun also learnt that all the parties in the case have been communicated of the new development by the chief judge through writing. It is not known when the new judge will commence sitting on the case since the former judge did not give any adjourned date on his behalf.
However, this newspaper’s investigation showed that for the matter to commence, the plaintiff in the suit has to apply for a hearing notice from the judge, and if that is done, a date for hearing would be given and circulated to all the parties concerned.