AKINTAN, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Ruling): The applicant. Dr. Timothy Ndubisi Menakaya, was the petitioner in a divorce petition now pending before Nwazota, J. sitting in court No. 1, at Onitsha High Court. The present respondent was the respondent in the petition. Mr. Anyamene, S.A.N., learned senior counsel for the respondent had by a letter dated 9th June, 1993 addressed to the Assistant Chief Registrar. High Court. Onitsha, objected to the learned Judge trying the petition and then requested that the matter be transferred to another Judge in the same Judicial Division for hearing. The reasons for making the request are set out in the letter as follows.
"The presiding Judge of Court 1 is a personal friend of the petitioner whom he visits and there is a likelihood he has heard of the matrimonial problems of the parties and it will hurt the respondent the wife of the petitioner that he would be the one to dissolve their marriage when in her view his role would be one under secti…