Rivers Courts adjourn suits against APC revalidation exercise indefinitely


Tina Amanda

A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has adjourned to sine die, a suit instituted by one Nna Okpara-Egburuka and Gilbert Kilsi, against the All Progressive Congress APC, its National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Mai Mala Buni and Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party in Rivers State Isaac Abbot-Ogbobula.

The Claimants are seeking interlocutory injunction to restrain the APC from conducting the ongoing revalidation and registration exercise in Rivers State.

During the proceeding in court, Counsel representing APC, Tuduru Edeh a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, informed the court of a pending appeal and motion of stay of proceedings of the lower court that is before the Appeal court.

Justice Okogbule Gbasam in his ruling, after listening to the argument of parties in the case, adjourned to sine die Pending the determination of the appeal Court.

In the same vein; Justice Monima Danagogo of High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, also adjourned sine die in a suit filed by Bariye Normagin and four others, against the All Progressive Congress APC, its National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Mai Mala Buni.

Justice Danagogo adjourned the suit sine die after Senior Advocate of Nigeria Tuduru Edeh, Counsel to APC notified the court of the pending appeal and stay of proceedings on the matter.

In an interview with our correspondent, Luke Patrick, Counsel to Claimants, said they were unable to move their motion for an interlocutory injunction due to the stay of proceedings.

“Counsel to APC informed the court that he has a motion to stay proceedings on the ground that he filed an appeal against the proceedings, on that note, the court adjourned sine die pending the outcome of the appeal.

“A motion has been fixed at the court of appeal and we shall argue within the contemplation of section 318 (1) of the constitution whether what has transpired before in the lower court is appealable to warrant the filing of the appeal”

On his part, Counsel to, APC Tuduru Edeh, SAN, explained that APC had to appeal the decisions and steps taking in the matter by the various judges and respective courts.

“The courts were also informed that the appeal is in respect of those matters that have been entered in the court of appeal. In the interest of justice, having regard to the motions, we have filed that it would be appropriate as the law requires for the court to grant a stay pending the decision of appeal court”