A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Jabi on Wednesday ordered the suspension of the embattled national chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, pending the determination of a substantive suit.
Justice Danlami Senchi gave the order following an application of interlocutory injunction which six plaintiffs, led by one Mustapha Salihu, filed through their lawyer, Mr. Oluwole Afolabi.
They had among other things, prayed the court to oust Oshiomhole from office, alleging that he was previously suspended as a member of the party from his Etsako ward 10, in Edo State.
Whereas Oshiomhole was cited as the 1st Respondent in the matter, the APC was sued as the 2nd Respondent.
In the application dated January 16, the plaintiffs told the court that Oshiomhole failed to challenge his suspension in his primary Ward in Edo state.
According to the complainants, Oshiomhole’s rights as an APC member is currently abated and he cannot continue to act as chairman of the party.
They argued that since his suspension remained extant, his rights as a member of the party is currently abated, insisting that he could therefore not continue to head the APC as its chairman.
The litigants also contended that it would be legally wrong for Oshiomhole to continue to enjoy benefits from the APC in view of his suspension as a member of the party.
In his ruling, Justice Senchi held that the first and second respondents wrongfully kept Oshiomhole as the national chairman of the party.
The court also ordered that Oshiomole should stop parading himself as the chairman of the APC.
Besides, Justice Senchi directed the party to stop acknowledging Oshiomhole as the chairman of the APC.
He held that since Oshiomhole had been evidently suspended in his Ward and the suspension not challenged, he had no business any longer parading himself as national chairman of the party.
He also issued order to the APC not to grant Oshiomhole access to the party secretariat.
Earlier, Oshiomhole had through his lawyer, Mr. Damian Dodo, challenged the competence of the suit which he said constituted an abuse of the court process.
Aside from querying the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter, Oshiomhole maintained that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to seek such reliefs against him.
The court adjourned hearing of the substantive suit till April 7.
It would be recalled that Oshiomhole who has had a running battle with the governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki was suspended by the state chapter of the APC following his suspension by the party’s leadership in his ward.
Both Oshiomhole and the APC dismissed the suspension as “invalid” arguing that only the party headquarters could suspend national officers, including the chairman.
