Imo APC guber primary: Nwosu faction accuses Justice Musa of bias

The legal battle between Senator Hope Uzodinma and Uche Nwosu over who won the Imo State’s All Progressives Congress (APC), governorship primary after two governorship primaries were held in state took an ugly turn on Tuesday as the trial court judge, Justice Othman Musa was accused of being bias.

Both Uzodinma and Nwosu had filed separate suits before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) laying claims to Imo State governorship ticket.

At the resumed hearing yesterday of the suit filed by Senator Uzodinma, and after the lawyers representing the parties announced appearances, Justice Othman Musa said that he had received a petition accusing him of bias.

He read out the petition dated October 22, 2018, addressed to the judge, which also accused him of favouritism.

The petition signed by one Bisike Chinaka, Deputy Chairman of APC Imo State Chapter accused Justice Musa, specifically of favouring Uzodinma in the court proceedings by granting orders in his favour.

APC, took swipe at the judge for granting an order directing the party to show cause why the name of Hope Uzodinma should not be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as candidate of the party in the 2019 governorship election in Imo state.

The petition copied the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Justice Ishaq Bello, was titled: Judicial Bias, Misconduct and Partiality by the Court.

It read in part, “Following the cancellation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the party’s candidate for the 2019 Imo State Governorship Election, on 4th October, 2018, Senator Hope Uzodinma filed an action against the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“The matter was assigned to his Lordship Othman Musa of Court 13, Bwari Judicial Division. On the 5th of October, 2018, his Lordship made an order that the parties should show cause why the said exparte application should not be granted.

“Therefore, Ugwunba Uche Nwosu also initiated an action in relation to the said primary election for APC candidate for the 2019 Imo Governorship Election and matter was assigned to his Lordship Valentine Ashi of Court 23, Apo Judicial Division.

“His Lordship granted an Interim Order of Injunction on 9th October, 2018 against APC and INEC to the effect that they must respectively send and receive Ugwumba Uche Nwosu’s name as the party’s candidate for the election.

“Unfortunately since this order was made, we have noticed that the proceedings before you which we have keenly watched appeared to be skewed in favour of Hope Uzodinma instead of both parties being treated equally.

“For instance, the court is always referring to the order to show cause granted in favour of Hope Uzodinma while ignoring the others made in favour of Ugwumba Uche Nwosu as though the latter orders were made by an inferior court.

“We strongly accuse you of bias and unable to discharge the oaths of your office as such recuse yourself forthwith and remit the case file to the Chief Judge”.

Justice Musa, after reading the petition to the open court informed parties that he would not be able to proceed with the matter, adding that since the petition was copied the Chief Judge, he would await the reaction of the Chief Judge.