THE Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo yesterday; Friday, July 23, 2021 ordered Barrister Julius Abure and Alhaji Umar Farouq Ibrahim; to step aside as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively of the Labour Party, pending the determination of a substantive suit brought before it by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and others.
The plaintiffs; NLC, Labour Party, Comrades Salisu Mohammed, Lawson Osagie, Baba Aye, Ikpe Etokudo, Sylvester Ejiofor, Lucy Ofion, and Salamatu Aliyu, had sued Abure and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of illegally holding a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party at which Abure and others emerged as leaders of the party.
Justice Ekwo ordered that parties stay action on the dispute pending the determination of the substantive suit.
“Parties to maintain status quo ante bellum in other not to disturb the res of the matter pending further order of this Court (status quo prior to the National Executive Council Meeting) that purportedly produced JULIUS ABURE as Chairman and one UMAR FAROUQ as National Secretary respectively,” Justice Ekwo ruled on a motion ex parte filed by the plaintiffs.
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Before the ruling on Friday, counsel to NLC, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), faulted the legality of the NEC that purportedly produced Abure as Chairman and other national officials of the party.
Falana argued that the exercise was in flagrant contravention of the 2018 judgement of the Federal High Court which declared Labour Party as the party of the Nigerian workers; promoted, funded and founded by the workers through their umbrella organisation, the NLC.
Justice Ekwo also ordered the plaintiffs to serve court processes on the defendants within seven days from Friday, and adjourned the matter till October 4, 2021 for further hearing of the motion on notice.
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