NMA crisis: Kaduna court fixes Nov 22 for continuation

A Kaduna state High court sitting in Zaria has fixed November 22 for continuation of the litigation filed against Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kaduna state branch.

Counsels to Dr Abdullahi Alfa Muhammad, who is the plaintiff, through a letter, inform the court that, the legal team to the plaintiff could not attend the court session in Zaria, alleging that they were scheduled to appear in another matter.

Dr Abdullahi Alfa Muhammad had dragged NMA, Kaduna branch before the court over electoral issues.

The court sitting in Zaria, presided over by Justice Muhammad Mannir Ladan, in an order issued on 3rd August 2018, restrained the officials of NMA Kaduna state branch, and their agents and privies from proceeding to conduct elections that were earlier schedule to be held by the association.

In suit no KDH/Z/189/2018 brought before the court by Dr Abdullahi Alfa Muhammad, pursuant to order 15 rules, 1 and 2 of the Kaduna state High court, (civil procedure rules)2007, prayed the court to issue a restraining order, barring the association from conducting elections into various offices. The court granted the request.

Justice Muhammad Mannir Ladan had also ordered the officials of NMA, Kaduna branch to appear before the court, on Wednesday October 31, and to show cause, why they should not be committed to prison for contempt, over their alleged disobedience of an order of the court.

The respondents through their counsel, barrister Alex Akoja, ESQ told the court that the procedure leading to the issuing of the earlier exparte order was fraught with procedural violations.

According to the respondents, they were not duly served with the relevant documents prior to the commencement of the court process, that led to the allegations of court contempt been levied against them.

Barrister Alex Akoja, who challenged the jurisdiction of the court to preside over the matter, urged the court to wholly set aside the exparte order that was earlier granted at the request of the plaintiff.

The respondents in the suit are, state Officers Committee of the Nigeria Medical Association, Kaduna state branch, chairman and secretary, Nigeria Medical Association, Kaduna state branch, others are, former chairman of the association, Dr Muhammad Sani Ibrahim, amongst others.

The matter has been adjourned to November, 22.