The counsel to Rivers chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the political matter involving PDP, the ruling party, APC, and the electoral commission, INEC in Rivers State, Ferdinand Orbih, says he has withdrawn his legal services to the party.
Mr Ferdinand Orbih, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, made this announcement on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, during the Court of Appeal sitting. He stated that he is withdrawing from the case for reasons which he gave as personal and on “compassionate grounds”.
On 5th February, 2019, Ferdinand Orbih, has that the court should not entertain APC’s appeal against the judgment of Justice Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court Judgment of January7, 2019 barring the APC from presenting candidates for the forthcoming general elections. He also argued that the APC brought the lower court record of proceeding directly, instead of through the court registrar. Owever stated that his withdrawal of services from the PDP did not affect the applications he had filed before the court.
He stated that his name is on the applications and he stated his withdrawal was the withdrawal of appearance and not (the) withdrawal of any application. He added that f there is the need for him to contribute, he will.
The counsels the All Progressive Congress (APC), Prince Azunda and Mustapha Ibrahim, argued that there should be “consequence for the withdrawal” of services by Ferdinand Orbih. They also added that his withdrawal amounted to a defeat of his applications and there must be a consequence of his withdrawal.
The lead judge, Justice Ali Gumail, on ruling on the issue of withdrawal said it was the SAN’s constitutional right and there is no urgency in the matter. The court was however adjourned until February 13, for pending motions in order to enable PDP to get a replacement for Ferdinand Orbih.
When contact by reporter outside the courtroom, Ferdinand Orbih stated that his withdrawal from the case does not have any undercurrent but the withdrawal was due to his “professional philosophy.”
