Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Emeka Etiaba, says Igo Aguma is still the Acting Chairman Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress APC in Rivers State.
Emeka Etiaba said this while speaking to newsmen in Abuja after an Appeal Court case filed by Isaac Ogbobula against the Justice George Omereji’s judgment that declared Igo Aguma the acting Chairman of APC in Rivers State.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria who is the legal representative of Igo Aguma said the court did not sack his client as the acting chairman of APC.
He said some of the declaratory release made by the High Court Judgment that declared Igo Aguma as caretaker chairman of the party cannot be stayed.
Emeka Etiaba said the parties will now move to the Supreme Court for the final determination of the suit.
In his response, the legal representative of Isaac Ogbobula, Tuturu Ede, SAN, said the Appeal Court in Abuja has granted a Stay of Execution on the Port Harcourt High Court judgment.
He said the decision means that the High Court judgment will no longer be effective till the Supreme Court make its final declaration.
In the meantime, the Igo Aguma led APC Caretaker Committee in Rivers State has called on party members to remain calm.
The Committee in a statement signed by the Media Adviser to the Acting Chairman of APC Rivers state, Livingstone Wechie said Igo Aguma is still the acting chairman in Rivers State.
“Members of the All Progressives Congress APC in Rivers state and the general public are advised to discountenance the falsehood peddled by mischief makers who are misrepresenting the lofty outcomes of today’s proceedings at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
“The Court of Appeal declined jurisdiction and disqualified itself entirely from the Appeal in Isaac Ogbobula v. Igo Aguma and others. It took judicial notice of an appeal filed by the first respondent Applicant Igo Aguma against the rulings of the Appeal Court on July 8, 2020, which was brought via a motion by Emeka Etiaba SAN. It held that it cannot seat on Appeal on a matter that is before the Supreme Court of Nigeria. It, therefore, declined jurisdiction on the matter and adjourned till further notice pending the determination of the Appeal before the Supreme Court.
“The Appeal Court never gave any rulings or orders staying the Declaratory Reliefs granted by Justice George Omereji which declared Igo Aguma the Acting Chairman of APC Rivers state. It could not have done so because the Court has no such powers to stay declaratory reliefs. The Court of Appeal could not have disqualified itself on a matter on appeal before the Supreme Court and still go ahead to make orders on same issues. What the Court did was simply to grant a stay on the executor part of the High Court judgement and Not the Declaratory reliefs granted by the High Court. This position has been well explained to the press by Emeka Etiaba SAN at the Court of Appeal and the information is public.
“Party faithful are kindly advised to remain resolute and disregard the lies and wish-party thrown around by anyone else who now mischievously impersonates the Acting Chairman of our state chapter in any guise whatsoever. We are used to their propaganda victory that exists only in their dreams”.
