b. An order granting leave to the Applicants to file and introduce additional evidence on behalf of the 4th Defendant and the expected 5th Defendant, and thus an order amending Paragraphs 4 of the Originating Applications to reflect the amendments, if granted. The Court allowed the Applicants to move their application, which was opposed by the Defendant’s on the grounds that the accompanying affidavit did not comply with the Evidence Act of Nigeria. In its ruling, the Court granted application to join Lamin Fatty as the 5 th Applicants as the Defendant could not satisfy the Court that it will suffer any prejudice on the account of the Application being granted. The Applicants also sought to withdraw their application for accelerated hearing which was accordingly struck out. Similarly, Amnesty International, the Canadian Journalist for Freedom of Expression, Committee to protect Journalists, Freedom House, Pen International, Reporters without Borders and Right to know campaign South Africa, brought an application pursuant to inherent jurisdiction of the Court and 89 of the Rules of this Court, seeking to join the suit as interveners/ Amici Curiae. The Defendant did not oppose the application. The Court granted the amicus Curae thirty days to file a consolidated brief instead of the forty five days they had asked for. The issues having been joined the Court proceeded to hear Defendants Preliminary Objection. 8