From Olalekan Awojodu, Abuja
The Abuja division of the Court of Appeal has adjourned till the March 23, 2023 to hear all appeals in the matter involving a former acting Director, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Mohammed Dauda and the agency over his unlawful dismissal.
Leading a three-man panel of Judges, Justice Hamma Akawu Barka after granting some applications on Tuesday further ordered the parties to regularize their processes before the adjourned date
The other Justices in the panel are Justices Ugochukwu Ogakwu and B Gafai.
The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) is the appellant in the suit, while Ambassador Mohammed Dauda is the respondent.
Before now, the National Industrial had earlier ordered the immediate reinstatement of the dismissed former acting director of the agency, Ambassador Mohammed Dauda into the service as substantive director.
However, a three-member panel of Justices of the appellate Court led by Justice Muktar Husseini has also granted NIA the leave to appeal against the judgment. The NIA had applied to the court to file its appeal against the judgment of the Industrial Court.
In his argument at the proceedings on Tuesday, counsel to the appellant, Wale Adesokan, SAN moved an application with a written address, asking the court for an extension of time to file his other applications still pending.
But after asking him to withdraw prayer 1 and 2 having been deemed unnecessary, the appellate court went ahead to strike out the (Appellant’s) 17 pages motion which was termed to be contrary to the rule of court.
The court later heard the three applications which bordered on; motion for extending the time with which to apply to set aside the initial judgment.
Motion for extending the time with which to file and serve its reply brief in terms of the appellant reply brief.
Motion granting the appellant/application to amend its reply brief in terms of amend reply brief.
Counsel to the respondent, Chika Odoemene did not raise an objection but prayed the court to grant an earlier application dated and filed on the 4th December 2022.
After hearing out parties in the matter, the appellate court then slated 23rd March, 2023 to hear all the appeals.
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