Alleged certificate forgery suit: Court dismisses aspirant’s application to join case against Akwa Ibom PDP guber candidate.

A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo has dismissed an application by Aniekan Etim, a governorship aspirant in the May 25, 2022 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries, describing it as lacking merit.

Justice Agatha Okeke in her ruling yielded to the submissions of the plaintiffs and the 1st and 2nd defendants that the application be dismissed.

The court described Mr. Aniekan Etim as a meddlesome interloper and a ‘busybody’ and went ahead to reject his application.

In the suit FHC/UY/CS/110/2022 Mr. Etim Aniekan Akan, one of the defeated aspirants in the PDP Governorship primaries, had sought the Court’s leave to be joined as a party in the suit between Akan Okon and Umo Eno.

The Defence Counsel for the 1st and 2nd Defendants, Paul Usoro, SAN citing relevant judicial authorities had said the only grounds on which a party can be joined in a suit is where their participation will aid the administration of Justice, and where such party’s interests are tied to the interests of the defendants.

Paul Usoro said whereas the party sought to be joined is seeking the cancellation of the primaries and disqualification of the registered parties, there is no connection between such interests and that of the plaintiffs and the defendants and urged the court to dismiss the application.

The 1st and 2nd defendants reasoned that a necessary party is a party without whose presence the case cannot be completely or effectively determined.

They reasoned further that one can also be joined in a case if the plaintiff had made a case or seeks reliefs that pertain to or affect that party.

Similarly, the counsel to the plaintiff, Uche Awa, SAN, also opposed the application by Mr. Etim Akan, seeking being joined in the case describing it as abuse of court process.

Mr. Etim Akan had pleaded that having bought the forms from the 1st Defendant and having participated and secured some votes at the primaries, he deserved to be a part of the case.