The embattled national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Barr. Julius Abure alongside some leaders of the party have been reinstated by the presiding judge, Justice Hamza Muazu of a High Court in Abuja on Friday following their suspension.
Recall in April, Abure alongside the National Organizing Secretary, Mr Clement Ojukwu and National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara, were ordered by the court to stop from parading themselves as national officials of the state.
This comes after the plaintiffs: Martins Esikpali John; Lucky Shaibu; Isah Zekeri; Omogbai Frank; Abokhaiu Aliu; Ayohkaire Lateef; John Elomah and Dr Ayobami Arabambi filed an ex-parte motion, marked M/7082/2023, seeking the removal of Abure and the three other national officers of the party which the judge granted an order of suspension
Overtnews reports that after listening to arguments from the parties, the Justice Muazu granted the order for stay execution pending the determination of the appeal filed by the defendants.
Recall on April 5, Justice Muazu had issued an interim injunction stopping Abure, Ibrahim and the party’s National Organizing Secretary, Mr Clement Ojukwu and National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara, from parading themselves as national officers of LP as contained in an ex-parte motion, marked M/7082/2023, brought before the court by the eight plaintiffs.
But at resumed hearing today, Friday, May 19, the defendants told the court that they have a notice of appeal pending at the court, of appeal.
After arguments from both parties, the judge granted an order for a stay on the suspension.
Following the April 5 ex-parte injunction made by Justice Muazu, stopping Abure, Ibrahim and two other national officials of the party, Alex Ejesieme, counsel to Abure and his team, SAN had on April 20 argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
Overtnews learnt that Ejesieme, SAN had submitted that the matter before the court bordered on the internal affairs of the Labour Party, adding that criminal allegations made by the plaintiffs in the case, could not be ventilated in an originating summon.
The counsel added that the eight plaintiffs that brought the case before the court were not members of the National Executive Council of the party and as such lacked the locus standi to institute the case.
According to Ejesieme, “Our contention is very clear that those criminal allegations cannot be ventilated in an origination summon.
“The issue of locus standi is there. When you referred to LP’s constitution, the claimants are not members of NEC or the party. They have a duty to present their membership cards to the court which they didn’t.”
While objecting to the preliminary objection raised by the counsel for Abure, counsel for the plaintiffs, Mr George Ibrahim, urged the court to dismiss same.
According to him, the first to fourth defendants had yet to obey the April 5 order of the court as they were still parading themselves as national officers of the LP.
With the ruling of the court on having jurisdiction to hear the case, its order of April 5 stands.
The judge then adjourned until today to hear the substantive case.
Earlier, the plaintiffs had informed the court, through their counsel, Ogwu Onoja SAN, that Abure and the three other national officials allegedly forged several documents of the FCT High Court, including receipts, seals and affidavits, to carry out unlawful substitutions in the last general election.
Onoja argued that following their indictment by the police investigation, the four people are to be arraigned in court, adding that warrants for their arrest have already been obtained.