5.1.8. Applicants aver that Aquinas Secondary School premises were used by both
Biafran Army Engineers and Nigerian Army Engineers who abandoned these
bombs.
5.1.9. The Applicants state that victims include their families and communities.
5.2. PROCEDURE
5.2.1. The initiating Application (Document number 1), though dated June 18,
2014, was lodged in this Court on July 11, 2014, and was accordingly served on
the Respondents.
5.2.2. The Respondents filed their respective Statements of Defense in response to
the Originating Application, raising several very important issues of both law and
fact. In addition to their Statements of Defense, the Respondents respectively filed
Preliminary Objections to the suit of the Applicants, challenging this Court’s
jurisdiction and competence to entertain this suit as well as questioning the
Applicants’ own ability to bring this suit, and requesting this Court to dismiss this
suit.
5.2.3. After pleadings rested and the case awaiting hearing and disposition of the
various Preliminary Objections filed by the Defendants, the Applicants filed a
Motion on September 14, 2015 praying for leave of the Court to allow the
Applicants to withdraw and/or discontinue the proceedings in this Suit against all
the Respondents (Document number 10).
5.2.4. On October 19, 2015, the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th Respondents filed a Motion for
Extension of Time (Document number 11) within which to file their Counter
Affidavit (Document number 12) in opposition to the Plaintiffs/Applicants’
Motion to Withdraw.
5.2.5. Likewise, the 4th and 5th Defendants on November 30, 2015, filed a Motion
for Extension of Time (Document number 13) within which to file their Counter
Affidavit (Document number 14) in opposition to the Applicants/\Plaintiffs’
Motion to Withdraw.
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5.2.6. Then on November 30, 2015 the Applicants/Plaintiffs filed their Reply on
point of Law (Document number 15) to the Counter Affidavit of the 1st, 2nd, 6th
and 7th Defendants. Finally on December 02, 2015, the Applicants/Plaintiffs also
filed similar Reply on point of Law (Document number 16) to the Counter
Affidavit of the 4th and 5th Defendants (Document number 17).