The Ab41a division of the Court of Appeal has set July 8 for hearing in the appeal filed by the ex-State Caretaker Committee Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Isaac Abbott Ogbogula over his sack by a Rivers State High Court.
Justice George Omereji had on June 9 declared Igo Aguma the caretaker chairman of the state chapter of the party.
He is contending the decision of the High Court of Rivers State to reject the preliminary objection filed to challenge its jurisdiction to hear the case by Aguma.
Ogbobula argued that since the case sought to have Aguma made the Caretaker Committee Chairman, the High Court ought not to have assumed jurisdiction, because it revolves solely around the internal affairs of a political party, which is not justiciable.
The appeal which was filed at the Port-Harcourt division of the Court was transferred to Abuja, sparking speculations within the party.
When the case was mentioned on Monday, two lawyers, Chigioke Adidi and Ezekiel Egbo announced appearances for the APC, thereby creating a bit of confusion.
The confusion was however put to rest when Dare Oketade announced himself as the APC’s National Legal Adviser.
Lawyer to the appellant, Tuduru Ede (SAN), later told the court that two applications were pending and that both were filed on 26th of June 2020.
Ede said the first application is seeking the abridgement of time and a departure from the court’s rule to enable him to compile the records of appeal.
He said the second application is for a restraining order against Aguma pending the determination of the appeal.
Lawyer to Aguma, Emeka Etiaba (SAN) objected to the hearing of the applications on the grounds that the applications referred to by Ede were not ripe for hearing, The Nation reported.
A three-man panel of the court, led by Justice Steven Adah, upheld Etiaba’s objection to the hearing of the applications.
The court then adjourned till July 8 for hearing.
