By Ayo Kehinde
An Imo state-based lawyer, O.J. Abazie, has dissociated himself from a lawsuit filed at the Federal High Court, Owerri seeking to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from using the Bimodal Voter Registration System, BIVAS, in the conduct of the 2023 general elections.
The Suit with No. HOW/OW/CS/144/2022 is between NWANKWERE MORALE CHINWEN V. INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION & 1 ANOR. Arguing that there was lack of telecommunication networks in many parts of the country, the plaintiff argue that the defendants should be prevented from deploying the system in the conduct of the general elections in 2023 in violation of section 50 (2), 60 and 62 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Making a disclaimer, Abazie whose chamber was used as the prosecution counsel, noted that he was neither consulted, nor permitted anybody to file a case in his name, adding that the official stamp was stolen by one a colleague of his, Blessing Iwuajunwa under the pretext that she wanted to prepare a land instrument for her client.
Below is Abazie’s disclaimer
“My attention has just been drawn to a Suit commenced via Originating Summons filed at the Federal High Court, Owerri Judicial Division in Suit No. HOW/OW/CS/144/2022 Between NWANKWERE MORALE CHINWEN V. INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION & 1 ANOR.
I hereby state in categorical and unequivocal terms that the suit was filed without my consent. The signature on the process is not mine and my initials is O.J. Abazie, Esq. The office address on the process is also not mine.
The person behind this unfortunate act is one Blessing Iwuajunwa, Esq, a colleague in Owerri who the only person was I have given my NBA stamp since this year, and she told me that she needs the stamp to prepare a land instrument owing to unavailability of her stamp.
Let it be known that I do not know Nwankwere Morale Chinwen, the purported plaintiff in the Suit neither have I met him/her before. He is not my client and neither did he brief me for any matter whatsoever.
Let it be known also that I have been preoccupied in the village with the burial preparation of my late mother for some time now.
It is very pathetic that such sensitive suit which is likely to make or mar the future of a Nation could be filed without my consent, authority or approval.
I hereby condemn such act in unequivocal terms and shall take the necessary steps to address such unprofessional conduct.
The public should therefore take note.
