The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Bwari, has restrained the National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Victor Oye, from holding any meetings or Congresses in the name of APGA pending the determination of a suit filed in respect of the party’s leadership crisis.
The interlocutory order by Justice Mohammed Madugu followed a motion on notice filed against Victor Oye and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, by two members of the APGA National Working Committee under the leadership of Edozie Njoku.
At the hearing on Wednesday, counsel to the Plaintiffs, Michael Ajara, informed the court that the business of the day was for the court to hear his motion on notice which he said was ripe for hearing.
He recalled that the court had on May 3rd, 2023, declined an ex parte motion brought by the plaintiffs, and instead ordered the applicants to put the respondents on notice.
Counsel to the respondents however said he had filed a memorandum of conditional appearance and preliminary objection on May 9, 2023.
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The respondent’s lawyer insisted that the option on notice was not ripe and instead pleaded with the court to proceed to hear the originating summon which he said he had responded to.
Michael Ajara, however, told the court that the submission by the defence counsel was misleading and not true and therefore asked the court to discountenance submission of defence counsel while admitting that the preliminary objection is not ripe for hearing.
In the face of the argument by the two lawyers representing the parties in the case, the court ordered the parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter.
The matter was adjourned to May 17, for hearing of the preliminary objection.
Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe
