Former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Jude Agbaso is seeking the withdrawal of his suit against the Imo State House of Assembly over the manner of his removal from office.
The junior Agbaso had filed the suit after an earlier suit against the House bothering on infringement of his fundamental human rights was dismissed by the court.
In an application filed by his counsel, Mr. Alex Williams, Agbaso told the court presided over by Justice Florence Duruohaigwe of his intention to discontinue with the suit. The court has now fixed June 4 for ruling on the application for the withdrawal.
According to Williams, his client had the right to decide whether to continue with his case or not, and urged the court to grant the application without delay.
But counsel to the defendant, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) opposed the application, arguing that it lacked merit. He said the application for withdrawal should not be granted.
He claimed that Agbaso wanted to withdraw for fear that he had no genuine case against his client. He also urged the court to punish the former deputy governor with a fine of N5m should it rule in favour of the withdrawal.
Huhuonline.com however learnt that the plan to withdraw the case followed a declaration by the elder Agbaso, Chief Martin, to contest for the governorship seat of the state in 2015.
It was learnt that the Agbasos wanted a withdrawal in order to be focused and adequately prepared for the election.
“I had made up my mind not to contest the 2015 governorship election in Imo State to concentrate on my businesses. But now, I will contest the 2015 governorship election in Imo State,” Martin had said in a recent interview.
“I will do this because of the politics of treachery and falsehood that is going on in Imo State presently. I will go into the 2015 fight with a determination that has never been seen before in me. We supported Rochas Okorocha to become governor, providing the platform, mobilising the people and risking so much unto the struggle because we thought there was an honest intention to serve and better the lots of Imo people.
“What we see now is politics of deceit, of putting the interest of the people aside while pursuing inordinate ambition. There is no difference between the situation of Imo politics before 2011 and what obtains now. And just like we joined Imo people to chase out the bad leadership then, we will again align with the people to see to the end of this present dragon that wants to destroy our dear state.”
Sources in the state informed Huhuonline.com that preparations were on for the elder Agbaso to contest the election.
“This is the reason they are withdrawing,” the source said. “They want Jude to face the preparation for his brother’s ambition. With the court case, he may not be focused.”
