The presiding judge of an Abia state High Court, Hon. Justice Ory-Ikeorha has restrained Abia state House of Assembly, and the Ad-hoc Committee it set up by the speaker, Rt. Hon Chinedum Orji to investigate the N22.4 billion Paris refund, to desist from inviting or investigating the former Commissioner for Finance, Chief Obinna Oriaku .
He gave the ruling on Wednesday, August, 4, 2021, after which a copy of the document was made to newsmen on Friday, the 5th of August.
The judge said that after careful perusal of the motion paper and the accompanying statement , filed pursuant to order 40, , rule 3(2) (a) of the state High Court, and having equally considered the facts of the applications, as well as the applicant counsel’s written address, and after hearing the selfsame counsel , C. C. Uhuaba Esq, pray the Honourable court for LEAVE to apply for judicial review, he had no choice but to restrain the Abia Assembly and its Ad-hoc Committee set up for the investigation of the N22.4 billion Abia state share of the Paris Club Refund from inviting or extending further invitation to the applicant and or any proceeding relating to the public enquiry on the issue connected , arising and or related , which is the subject of the pending suit .
It could be recalled that the Speaker of Abia state House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Eng. Chinedum Orji had , after a brouhaha following a publication of one of the renown up-coming factual newspapers on the N22.4 billion refund Paris fund, set up a Committee to look into the matter.
The Committee had invited some people, including Chief Oriaku for their findings through radio announcements and other means of communication.
It is believed that it was pursuant to that invitation that Oriaku headed to Court to restrain the Committee or the House from inviting him for any investigation. END
