Justice Edward Okpe of the Vacation Court 1, Maitama Abuja on Tuesday sets aside his initial judgement of June 22, 2023 that compelled the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC , to pay Mr Christian Igbo, a contractor the sum of over N29 million naira as balance of payment for contract allegedly executed for the Corps.
Justice Okpe, aligning with the position of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and plethora of judicial authorities set aside his judgement of 22nd June as it relates to relief 4, same being nulity, having being given without jurisdiction.
It will be recalled that a contractor, Christian Igbo, managing director of Davenchris Venture Ltd had earlier approached the High Court of the FCT in Nyanya, Abuja through their counsel Pascal Obioha in an original motion on notice marked CV/2115/2023 sued the NSCDC and others over the non payment of the balance of the contract allegedlly executed by the plaintiff.
In his judgement on June 22, 2023 Justice Okpe had ordered the NSCDC to pay Mr Igbo the sum of N29, 360,699,00 being balance of the contract money.
However, not satisfied with the judgment of Court, the NSCDC through their counsel, EVELYN O. O. CHARLES-IYANYA, Esq, from the office of the Director Legal services, filed a motion on notice, challenging the jurisdiction of court to entertain a matter on payment of contract sum via fundamental rights, that right to payment of contract sum is not covered under Chapter 4 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and that the judgment of 22nd June 2023, was given without jurisdiction
And in his judgement on Tuesday, Justice Okpe, aligning with the position of the Constitution of the FEDERAL republic of Nigeria and plethora of judicial authorities, set aside the judgment of 22nd June 2023 as it relates to relief 4, same being nullity, having been given without jurisdiction.