Even with ObioraAkubeze already ordained as Archbishop of Benin Archdiocese, themembers of Edo Liturgical Group appear undaunted in their quest to ousthim.
They have again appeared before Justice Rowland Amaize of theBenin High Court with another demand.
This time they are seeking thereturn of the case challenging Mr Akubeze’s ordination to the statechief judge, for the case to be reassigned to another judge for retrial.
The group had twoweeks ago secured an injunction to stop the ordination of Mr Akubeze asArchbishop of Benin on the ground that he is of Igbo descent.
They aredemanding for a Benin bishop in his stead.
The same court, however,overturned its former decision on the injunction, thereby permittingthe ordination of Mr Akubeze last week.
Counsel to theplaintiff, Jonathan Aghimien (SAN), expressed displeasure over the waythe court vacated its order restraining the Catholic Church frominstalling Mr Akubeze as archbishop, saying that he was not properlyserved.
This he said was responsible for his absence in court on theday the lawyer to the respondent, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), secured theorder vacating the restraining order.
Mr Aghimien saidthat a lawyer in his chamber signed for the process on Good Friday(April 22), adding that someone drew his attention to the matter overthe telephone.
He argued further that one could not be served courtprocesses through the telephone. He noted that what pained him the mostwas that he was made to appear as if he dodged the court.
He thereforesought for the transfer of the matter to another judge foradjudication, alleging that his clients were being intimidated andharassed, threatened with de-robing as knights of the Catholic Church.
“This is not the first time a member of a church would be going to court, especially on issues of administration,” he said.
Responding, thecounsel to the defendant, Mr Ozekhome, said a lawyer in the plaintiff’slawyer’s chamber signed for the court processes, saying that greatdamage would have been done to the image of Nigeria if the order wasnot vacated to facilitate the installation of the archbishop.
MrOzekhome said the judge gave an undiluted ruling, adding that theyagreed that the case should be transferred to another judge.
Having listened to both parties, the trial judge, Justice RowlandAmaize, therefore granted the prayer of the petitioners and ordered thecase to be returned to the chief judge for re-assigning to anotherjudge.
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