APGA crisis: Court restrains Masalla

An Abuja High Court on Tuesday restrained Alhaji Sadiq Masalla from parading himself as the national chairman of APGA, pending the determination of a suit.

A faction of APGA, led by the Deputy National Chairman (North) Massala,on 16 July sacked Chief Victor Umeh as national chairman.

The faction also sacked the National Secretary, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, over allegations of spending party funds
without due process.

The Masalla-led faction of the party accused both Umeh and Shinkafi of several constitutional breaches in the running of the affairs of APGA.

The faction then appointed Masalla as National Chairman and Mr Morgan Anyalechi, the National Vice-Chairman (South) as Deputy Chairman.

The vacation judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf also ordered Masalla, Anyalechi “not to take any step toward convoking
any national, state or local government executive committee meeting of the party.”

In his ruling on a “motion of urgency” filed on behalf of Chief Victor Umeh by his counsel, Chief Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), the judge prayed the court to restrain the group led by Masalla from parading themselves as the national officers of
the party.

Umeh in the motion, also prayed the court in the interest of justice, grant the order for peace to reign in the party.

He also urged the court to hold that his purported “suspension” was unconstitutional.

Umeh in the suit, wants the court to hold that under Article 19.2 of the Constitution of APGA, can a chairman be removed from office?.

Baba-Yusuf also restrained Masalla from expelling any member of APGA, pending the hearing and determination
of motion on notice fixed for hearing on Aug. 16.

The judge also ordered that a substituted service of all originating processes in the suit be served on Masalla and Anyalechi by publishing in The Sun Newspaper.