Justice George Omereji of the Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered leaders of a faction of the All Progressives Congress, APC, loyal to the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi to appear in court and defend contempt charges filed against them by the Igo Aguma-led caretaker committee.
Theportcitynews learnt that those summoned by the court include Senator Andrew Uchendu and Sokonte Davies, a former member of the board of the Nigerian Port Authority.
Davies had few days ago emerged as the factional caretaker committee chairman of the party, after announcing the expulsion of Aguma and others.
Aguma had filed an exparte motion through his counsel, E.S. Aluzu challenging the suspension and sacking of the Aguma.
Aguma took over the state chapter party after a court sacked an interim committee set up by the national working committee of the party.
Aluzu in her motion declared the action of Davies’ committee a contempt of court and having no regard to the court ruling which declared Aguma as Caretaker Chairman of the APC in the state.
She informed the court that she had filed a 12-paragraph affidavit with exhibits marked as Exhibit A and a written address which she adopted as her legal argument in support of the application.
Justice George Omereji said the relief to serve the alleged contemnors is in accordance with the constitutional right of fair hearing.
“The application is to afford the parties sought to be served the opportunity to come before this Honourable Court to defend the allegation against them.
“The Claimants/Applicants in my humble opinion, have presented facts sufficient enough to enable this Honourable Court to exercise its discretion in favour of the application”.
The judge also granted the reliefs sought in the motion paper.
The presiding judge further ordered that the ruling be attached to the processes to be served on the alleged contemnors.
Andrew Uchendu and Sokonte Davies are expected to appear in court on the adjourned date, Tuesday, July 7, 2020, to defend the allegation
