17th April, 2023
Justice Hamza Muazu of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday insisted that Julius Abure will remain suspended as the Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) pending the hearing and determination of the suit challenging his continued stay in office over allegations of corruption.
Justice Muazu said this while rejecting prayer by Alex Ejesieme, SAN, the counsel to Abure to vacate the interim order suspending the Labour Party chairman from parading himself as the chairman of the party.
The lawyer had noted that vacating the interim order will restore a semblance of sanity within the party.
He added that there has been a after a forceful take over of the Labour Party national secretariat by another faction of the party after the interim order was issued.
He also told the court that the interim order has worsened the crisis within the party, citing last weekend’s parallel gubernatorial primaries by different factions of the party.
However, in his short ruling, the judge said rather than vacate the order, he will ensured accelerated hearing in the matter.
The Judge consequently fixed April 20, for the hearing of all pending applications and ordered all parties in the suit to ensure quick filing of their processes in order to ensure a speedy trial.
Justice Muazu had on April 5 issued an order restraining Abure as well as the National Secretary, Alhaji Farouk Ibrahim; National Organizing Secretary, Oluchi Opara and National Treasurer, Clement Ojukwu from parading themselves as leaders of the Labour Party pending the hearing of a suit seeking their sack over allegations of fraud amongst others.
The court also ordered the immediate service of its orders on the defendants it fixed April 17 for hearing in the motion on notice.
The interim order was given following an exparte application by some members of the party that the court should to stop Abure and the other defendants from further acting on behalf of the Labour Party, pending the hearing and determination of their suit challenging the continued stay in office of the defendants over allegations of corruption.
The claimants amongst whom are; Martins Esikpali John, Lucky shaibu, Idah Zekeri, omogbai Frank, Abokhaiu aliu, Ayokhaire later, Job Elomah and Dr abayomi Arabambi, had in the Motion number: M/7082/2023, accused the defendants of forgery, perjury, unlawful and fraudulent replacement of party’s candidates in the just concluded general elections.
The claimants had in the suit, accused the defendants of forging court documents including receipts and seal of the FCT High Court which they had allegedly used in the substitutions of LP’s candidates in the 2023 general elections.
The court, had after listening to the argument of Chief Ogwu Onoja, SAN, counsel to the claimants, held that there was merit in the application.
Justice Muazu subsequently issued an order temporarily restraining the defendants from parading themselves as leaders of the party pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.