By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday restrained the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from holding the meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC) scheduled for Tuesday March 17,2020.
The judge further ordered parties to maintain status quo pending the hearing of the substantive suit on March 25.
The judge made the order consequent upon a Motion on Notice filed before the court by Dr Ehiogie West-Idahosa on behalf of ten chairmen of States’ chapters of the party, Secretary South West zone and the deputy national publicity secretary of the party.
In an affidavit sworn to by one Babatunde Balogun who is chairman Lagos state chapter of the party and a member of the national executive committee, the petitioner averred that all the plaintiffs are members of the National Executive Committee of the party.
He further averred that on the 6th of March, 2020, he read notice of meeting issued by one Giadom purporting to convey an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee.
Furthermore he averred that he read on social media and online publications that the National Working Committee did authorise the defendants to convey a meeting of the NEC.
Immediately, he consulted the other plaintiffs and they decided to approach the court, stating that unless the defendants who are APC, INEC and IGP are restrained, they will give effect to the resolution and decisions made at the meeting unilaterally conveyed by the said Mr Giadom who purports to be the acting national secretary of the party. And that he has no power whatsoever under the constitution of APC to unilaterally summon an emergency meeting of the NEC at a time the minimum of seven days notice is required to give to those entitled to attend the meeting.
The plaintiffs argued that it was important for court to issue an order to maintain status quo pending the determination of substantive suit. At the moment, access to the secretariat of the party is restricted for the purpose of the bailiff serving court process on them.Consequently the publication of the process and order of the court will be adequate notice to the defendants.
In his ruling, the presiding judge Justice Mohammed Liman, ordered all the parties to maintain status quo.
While reading the ruling, he cited the case of Ojukwu Vs Lagos State government which states that while a case is before the court, none of the parties should do anything to overreach the court.
He also ordered that the order of the court should be advertised in two national dailies. He further ruled that the court order should be served by publications in two national dailies.
He adjourned the case to March 25 for hearing of substantive suit.