By Tony Edike
ENUGU — THERE were conflicting signals last night as to whether the order granted by Justice Reuben Onuorah of Enugu State High Court was discharged to pave the way for the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, to participate in the National Convention of the party.

Director of Litigations and Court’s Decision at the Enugu State High Court, Mr Vincent Aneke, said even though Nwodo’s lawyers had filed an application for a stay of execution of the court order as well as an appeal against the order, the applications were not heard yesterday.

According to him, “the order made by Justice R. N. Onuorah restraining the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Nwodo, is still intact and nothing has changed. Nobody vacated the order. Anybody telling you that the order had been vacated is telling you lies. The order is subsisting.

“If there is any order made by any court in Enugu State High Court I must be the one to sign it and if I don’t sign it, such order remains incompetent.  No order of this court was brought before me today.  I can only confirm to you that Nwodo’s lawyers filed application today for a stay of the order in which they also asked for vacation of the order.  They also brought an appeal against the decision of the court but I can tell you officially that these applications have not been heard.”
Order has been discharged – Lawyers
But Nwodo’s team of lawyers led by Prof. Ilochi Okafor, SAN,  said in a telephone chat with newsmen that the restraining order was vacated yesterday by the court presided over by Justice Reuben Onuorah and that the coast was clear for Nwodo to preside over the PDP National Convention in his official capacity as national chairman of the ruling party.

Pressure to vacate order
As learnt, the judge vacated the order following pressure allegedly mounted on him by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adokie and Nwodo’s team of lawyers.

Nwodo’s lawyers stormed the court yesterday morning to get the order discharged but up till 6 p.m. yesterday, there was no clear sign that Justice Onuorah was ready to accede to their request even though sources said the state Chief Judge, Justice Innocent Umezulike, had directed him to vacate the order forthwith.

Among Nwodo’s lawyers seen in court were Anthony Agbo, Ben Ezeugwu and Vernatius Odoh.  “Although they were able to convince the judge to vacate the order which, they contended, was given in error, Justice Onuorah could not be reached,” a source said.

They maintained that the judge had no jurisdiction to give such  order which they viewed as “perverse, unwarranted and a negation of the principles of justice” and clearly spelt out the implication of his action.

A PDP Governorship aspirant in Enugu State and a lawyer, Chief Okey Ezea also confirmed to Vanguard last night that the order was duly vacated by Justice Onuorah but the papers were being “enrolled” at press time.

Vanguard learnt that it was immediately the judge allegedly “vacated” the order in his chambers that a call was put through to Dr. Nwodo in Abuja and barely an hour after the legal barricade was cleared, he arrived the Eagle Square, venue of the PDP National Convention, where he addressed the party delegates.

However, Mrs. Justina Offia, SAN, lead counsel to Mr. Collins Amalu, who obtained the court order against Nwodo said, when contacted, that she was not aware of the discharge or vacation of the order.