Court restrains Buni, others from parading themselves as APC caretaker committee members

A High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, has issued an order restraining Yo be State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, and other members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) from parading themselves as members of the party’s national caretaker committee until the determination of the substantive suit before the court.

The court, presided over by Justice Onome Marshal Umukoro also put on hold the APC local government congress in Delta State, scheduled for September 4.

The APC Deputy Chairman in the state, Olorogun Elvis Ayomanor and other officials of the party had approached the court following the July 10, 2021 controverted ward congresses, which many members of the party claimed was hijacked by certain elements within the party in the state.

In an ex parte motion, the claimants/applicants through their lawyer, Daubry Ebipade Richard, prayed the court to grant the seven-point reliefs sought on the grounds that going ahead with the local government congress in the state will cause more damage.

They sought “an order of interim injunction of this honourable court restraining the 2nd to 14th defendants/respondents from further acting or parading themselves as the members of the caretaker/ extraordinary convention planning committee (CECPC) of the 1st defendant pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed and served in the suit.

“Alternatively, an order of interim injunction of this honourable court restraining the 2nd-14th defendants/respondents from conducting the local government and state congresses slated for September 4, 2021 or any other date, and other congresses of the 1st defendant in Delta State, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed and served.

“An order of interim injunction of this honourable court restraining the 2nd to 14th defendants/respondents from further acting or parading themselves as the members of the caretaker/extraordinary convention planning committee (CECPC) of the 1st defendant pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed and served in the suit.”

Lead counsel to the defendants, Robert Emukpoeruo (SAN), had initially challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit but later on sought that certain parties be joined as co-defendants.

But counsel to the applicants, Richard, said that the matter before the court was an ex-parte motion, which does not require parties consideration.

Ruling, the judge granted seven days order of interim injunction restraining Buni and the CECPC from conducting the local government and state congresses in Delta State and from parading themselves as members of the national caretaker committee of the party, pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

Umukoro also ordered that Buni and others at the national leadership be served originating summons “by means, to wit, by serving same on any officer or staff of the All Progressives Congress, at the All Progressives Congress national secretariat at No. 40, Blantyre Street, Wuse, Abuja, and deeming such service in the circumstances of this case.”

The suit was adjourned till September 7 for hearing.