The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has joined the Federal Ministry of Education to a suit filed by a Seventh-day Adventist member, Ugochukwu Uchenwa, seeking to stop conduct of examinations and elections on Saturday.

The court also involved the Council of Legal Education in the case, following an application by the plaintiff that the two agencies should be made parties in the suit.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, counsel to the plaintiff, Benjamin Amaefule, informed the court of a pending application for joinder. He said the request was filed on March 29

The lawyer told the court that he had attached relevant exhibits to show that the Council conducts examinations on Saturdays. Amaefule said the ministry was being joined because the examination-conducting institutions are under it, and as such is being expected to bar universities and other institutions of higher learning from conducting academic activities on non-academic days. He sought six reliefs, but the judge, Justice James Omotosho, granted only four.

Those granted include: “An order of the court joining the Council of Legal Education and the Federal Ministry of Education to the suit.

“An order of court allowing the applicant to amend the system in support of the originating application in the suit.

“An order granting leave to the application to amend the originating motion to reflect the parties joined.

There was no opposition to the application for joinder from the respondents. Justice Omotosho, consequently, adjourned the matter to October 23 for hearing.(The Guardian)