The New Experience Newspapers Online News Indepth, Analysis and More
Justice Lewis Allagoa of Federal High Court, Kano has set aside the ruling of the FCT High Court suspending the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
Besides, the judge restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from dealing with any person except the one-time labour leader as helmsman of the ruling party pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
Granting an interim order sought by one Aliyu Mohammad Rabiu, Justice Allagoa directed all parties to the suit to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the hearing on notice.
The presiding judge thereafter adjourned till April 8 after directing the APC, Oshiomhole, INEC, the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to file their appearances within seven days.
Justice Danlami Senchi of the FCT High Court had on Wednesday granted an order of interim injunction unseating Oshiomhole as APC chair.
Besides, the embattled party chair met yesterday with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja.
The meeting, which held behind closed doors, came barely hours after the ruling of Kano court setting aside the former Edo governor’s suspension.
Apparently basking in the euphoria of the temporary respite, the APC chief laid the blame for his predicament on the doorstep of a minister and some chieftains of the party outside his home state.
Addressing State House correspondents, Oshiomhole, who did not mention the names of his supposed blackmailers, declared that only God could determine how long he would lead the party.
Specifically, he said the plot by those he described as ‘blacklegs’, would not succeed.
The APC chairman, who described himself as a child of light and will always defeat darkness, said: “You will recall that I was here two days ago to brief Mr. President as I always on matters affecting the party. Just yesterday (Wednesday) morning, I suddenly saw in the news that an FCT High Court has suspended me as national chairman. And that the one of the five persons who went to court includes one of my vice chairmen, Mustapha Salihu (APC National Vice Chairman, North East). I was taken back because in the same suit, they joined the APC, the police and the DSS.”
He added: Our lawyers told me that in law, when you sue a federal agency, FCT High Court has no jurisdiction to entertain it.”
The outcome of the meeting, which was confirmed Oshiomhole’s media aide, Simon Ibegbulam, was, however, undisclosed as at press time.