By Yemi Oyeyemi, Abuja
The crisis of confidence rocking the national leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has taken a new dimension as a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) restrained the National Chairman of the party, Mr Julius Abure, National Secretary, Alhaji Farouk Ibrahim; National Organising Secretary, Mr Clement Ojukwu; and the National Treasurer Oluchi Opara from parading themselves as national officers of the party.
Justice Hamza Muazu issued the restraining order on Wednesday in Abuja while ruling in ex-parte application argued bsfore it, based on a suit by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Abayomi Oluwafemi Arabambi and seven others.
The other plaintiffs are Martins John, Lucky Shaibu, Isa Zekeri, Omogbai Frank, Abokhaiu Aliu, Ayohkaire Lateef, and Job Elomah.
Arguing the ex-parte order, the counsel to the plaintiffs, Chief James Ogwu Onoja (SAN) informed the court how the restrained national officers allegedly forged several documents of the FCT High Court to carry out unlawful substitutions of candidates in the last general elections for pecuniary gains..
Among the documents of the Court allegedly forged were the receipts, seal and affidavits used to carry out criminal activities.
Onoja tendered several documents and told the Judge that the Chief Registrar of the Court upon enquiry wrote the Labour Party to disclaim several documents used for the alleged criminal activities by Abure and the three others.
Onoja said that following the widespread complaints of criminal activities against the four principal officers, Police were invited for investigation and that in the police report, the four officers were severely indicted and are to be arraigned in court adding that warrants for their arrest have already been obtained.
Among the exhibits attached to the ex- parte application are certified true copy of the police report, certified true copy of the letter by the Chief Registrar of the FCT High Court disclaiming documents used by the four principal officers to carry out the alleged unlawful substitutions of candidates.
The senior lawyer also tendered resolution of the ward executive committees of the defendants passing votes of no confidence on them and suspending their respective membership of the party.
With their indictment for criminal activities, the senior lawyer told the court that the four principal officers lacked vires, moral and legal standing to lead the party as their continued stay in office would continue to damage the reputation, integrity goodwill of the party.
In a brief ruling, Justice Muazu held that the application and the supporting affidavits as well as the exhibits have made out a good case for the restraining order to be granted.
The Judge subsequently ordered that the four people should immediately stop parading themselves as National Officers of Labour Party.
Justice Muazu, while abridging time to facilitate speedy hearing of the substantive suit, fixed April 17 for the motion on notice to be heard.