A Federal Capital Territory High Court, on Wednesday, restrained Julius Abure from parading himself as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.
Abure was restrained alongside three other officials of the party over alleged forgery.
Presiding Judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, also ordered that the originating processes of the court be served on the restrained officials – Abure; the National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim; the National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara; and the National Organising Secretary, Clement Ojukwu.
The court held that the ex-parte application for interim injunction restraining the four officials by aggrieved members of the LP before the court has merit and granted same.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the 1 to 4th Defendants, their agents, privies, servants, employees and representatives’ whatsoever and howsoever described from parading themselves as the National Chairman, National Secretary, National Treasurer and National Organising Secretary of the 5″ Defendant (LP) pending the determination of the Motion on Notice,” the judge said.
The application was brought by Martins Esikpali John O., Lucky Shaibu, Isah Zekeri, Omogbai Frank, Abkhaiu Aliu, Ayohkaire Lateef, Job Elomah and Dr Abayomi Arabambi though their lawyer, James Onoja (SAN).
The development comes a week after a ward in the Edo State chapter of LP suspended Abure over alleged anti-party activities.
Martins Osigbemhe, the Ward Chairman, said said at a press conference that Abure was suspended by the executive, pending the determination of the numerous petitions and cases against him in courts.
LP National Secretary, Mallam Farouk Umar, however, dismissed the suspension as illegal.
“None of them were at the press conference. We make bold to say that they are people assembled and rented from some Abuja slums and paid to read a prepared speech given to them,” Umar said.
The national Secretary said that the LP Constitution is clear on who can suspend and who cannot suspend the National Chairman.
Umar said, “They should go and read the party constitution. It is only the National Convention that can suspend the National chairman of the Labour Party. It also must be through such a convention called for the purpose of the suspension of the National Chairman.”