The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has refuted viral claims of a court pronouncement affirming Chief Edozie Njoku as the party’s national chairman.
The All Progressive Grand Alliance is currently battling a leadership crisis that has led to the emergence of several factions, coupled with court litigations among each of the sections claiming to be the authentic elected national working committee (NWC) of the party.
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A party chieftain, Edozie Njoku, had approached the federal high court and sought, among other reliefs, a declaration of the court in his favor as the National Chairman of APGA.
He also prayed the court to mandate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize him as the National Chairman of APGA and stop recognizing Victor Ike Oye as the party’s National Chairman.
However, APGA, in a statement by its Chairman in Imo State, John Iwuala, while clarifying the outcome of court proceedings in the matter between Oye and Njoku held Friday, said Njoku breached part rules by appearing in court with a new lawyer.
“Trouble started in the court when he (Edozie Njoku) in his usual way brought a lawyer for APGA as against the National legal adviser of the party, Sly Ezenwoke Esq. So the question now is: who is to represent APGA as lawyer among the duo? he asked.
“After series of deliberations, the court later asked both lawyers to file briefs and decided to pronounce the authentic lawyer at the end of the matter on judgment. However, this decision did not go down well with Dr. Oye and APGA. Hence they approached the court of Appeal.
“On Friday, 17 Sept. 202, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, directed that the matter be sent back to the Federal High Court for continuation. There is nothing beyond this.
“The court of Appeal has every right to invoke the authorities of Order 47 of the court of Appeal Act to assume jurisdiction as the court of the first instance but didn’t want to do so as the substance of the case has already been dealt with by three appeal court judgments via Kano, Awka, and Enugu respectively.
“It baffled the leadership of APGA Imo State Chapter how these fake news peddlers behave in a myopic way of feeding the public with fake news. This calls for a cry of reasoning and ecology of reasonableness.
“It must be recalled that this matter emanated from Bauchi State, where the plaintiff and his co-travelers went for “forum shopping’ to deceive the judge who on sighting danger that both plaintiff and defendant are same persons, sponsored by the same person, just trying to mislead the court, washed his hands off from it, the case was transferred to Abuja, and Dr. Victor Ike Oye was notified of the ongoing matter. They specialize in suing, bringing their lawyer, and getting a lawyer for the defendant without their knowledge until judgment is secured. That was what they did in Jigawa. Accordingly, the court of Appeal Kano division has set it aside and declared *Dr. Oye as the duly elected and authentic National Chairman of APGA in a well-organized and INEC monitored National Convention held on 31st May 2019.
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“With the return of this matter to the High Court yesterday (Friday) from the court of Appeal Abuja, the point is as good as dead as the High court lacks jurisdiction to hear any matter of which substance has already been heard and finally determined by the Court of Appeal. This one, three appeal court judgments in favor of Dr. Oye, including the N10m against Edozie Njoku for disturbing APGA and the land courts.
“I see another N10m award against him soon. I wish with this, the reading public, especially our Anambra indigenes resident here in Imo State, can remain calm and undisturbed over the fake news.
“We all know the pains you passed through when this fake, fabricated, and malicious news came up as it has to do with the emergence of Prof Chukwuma Soludo as the next Governor of Anambra State, come November 2021”.
APGA accused political jobbers of peddling the fake viral news to mislead the reading public as part of their failed strategies to truncate the party’s chances for the November 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra state.
