LP Crisis: High Court Lifts Suspension Order On Abure, Other LP Officers

The suspension of Julius Abure, Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), and other individuals was granted a stay of execution on Friday by Justice Hamza Muazu of a High Court in Abuja.

Others include the National Organizing Secretary, Mr. Clement Ojukwu, and National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara, from posing as LP national representatives.

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The plaintiffs in the case are Martins Esikpali John; Lucky Shaibu; Isah Zekeri; Omogbai Frank; Abokhaiu Aliu; Ayohkaire Lateef; John Elomah and Dr Ayobami Arabambi.

They had in an ex-parte motion, marked M/7082/2023, sought the removal of Abure and the three other national officers of the party which the judge granted order of suspension.

After hearing arguments from the parties, the judge approved the request for a stay of execution pending the outcome of the defendants’ appeal.

The party’s National Organizing Secretary, Mr. Clement Ojukwu, and National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara, were also barred from posing as national officers of the LP by an interim order given by Justice Muazu on April 5.

This was stated in an ex-parte application filed before the court by the eight plaintiffs and designated M/7082/2023.

The defendants informed the court today that they currently have an appeal notice filed with the court.

The judge granted an order for a stay on the suspension following lengthy discussions from the parties.

Following the April 5 ex-parte injunction made by Justice Muazu, stopping Abure, Ibrahim and two other national officials of the party, Alex Ejesieme, SAN had on April 20 argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

The senior advocate had submitted that the matter before the court bordered on the internal affairs of the Labour Party, adding that criminal allegations made by the plaintiffs in the case, could not be ventilated in an origination summon.

He added that the eight plaintiffs that brought the case before the court were not members of the National Executive Council of the party and as such lacked the locus standi to institute the case.