By Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja
An Abuja Federal High Court was yesterday told that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, has a record of mental disorderliness from the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
This was at the hearing of a suit filed by a chieftain of the party, Mr. Emmanuel Abalaka against the nomination of Wada.
In an originating summons brought pursuant to Sections 31 (2), 31 (5) (6) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended and the inherent jurisdiction of the court, the plaintiff is pleading with the court to declare that Wada’s nomination by the PDP is null, void and of no consequence.
He pleaded for an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising Wada as a candidate in the poll.
The respondents are the PDP, INEC and Wada.
The plaintiff is contending that Wada was not a card carrying member of PDP by the time he was nominated.
The plaintiff’s counsel, Bola Aidi, brought a fresh affidavit where he stated that Wada is “not a fit and proper person to contest for the governorship of Kogi State”.
The affidavit deposed to by Uchechukwu Clement, a lawyer, stated that contrary to claims by Wada on oath under part B, Article E Question 1 “Idris Wada had at a point been adjudged to be of unsound mind”.
•That Idris Ichalla Wada is actually an un-discharged psychiatric patient of the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan.
•That Idris Wada was admitted into the psychiatric unit of the UCH Ibadan on 7th April 1976 with Card No. 399346 on referral from Dr. V.O. Anosika of Estate Clinic Group for Schizophrenic illness”
•That Idris Wada’s mental state on admission was one of paranoid delusions and auditory hallucinations according to his medical record.
•That contrary to Idris Wada’s deposition, Dr. Oyewumi of University College Hospital, Ibadan actually diagnosed him of acute psychotic episodes and paranoid psychosis on 7/4/1976.
•That contrary to Idris Wada depositions, Dr. Oyewumi on 24/4/76 at 11:50 a.m actually confirmed that Idris was psychotic.
•That again contrary to Idris Wada deposition, it was again confirmed at 4 p.m of the same 24/4/76 that Idris Wada was grossly psychotic.
•That his father Haleel Ejiga while attempting to remove him from UCH against medical advice actually disclosed a history of mental illness in the family as a niece of Idris Wada also had it in 1972.
•That on 28/4/76, his father, then of upper Area Court, Makurdi, by a letter of discharge against medical advice actually took Idris Wada Hospital No. 399346 away from University College Hospital, Ibadan contrary to the advice of medical staff.
•That Idris Wada did not undergo full treatment for his psychotic disorder from UCH Ibadan before his father removed him against medical advice.
•That he was not diagnosed as having been of reasonable mind before his father removed him.
•That by his father’s letter of 22nd September 1976, Idris Wada was to return for treatment and observation for a period of 6 months from 19th August 1976.
•That there’s no record that Idris Wada went back for treatment at UCH.
Justice Adamu Bello adjourned the hearing till November 29.
•That till date, no medical record from the UCH has confirmed Idris Wada as a discharged patient of the Psychiatric unit.
