“It has no effect on me” – Gov. Buni dismisses court sack as APC caretaker chairman

September 2, 2021

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Caretaker Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni, has declared that the court order which purportedly sacked him from office is of no effect on him.

Governor Buni in a statement on Thursday by the DG press and media affairs, Mamman Mohammed, noted that the court order is restricted to the leadership of the APC in Delta State and not the national leadership of the party.

It will be recalled that a High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State on Wednesday restrained the interim chairman and others from parading themselves as members of the party’s CECPC until the determination of a substantive suit before the court.

The presiding judge, Justice Onome Marshal Umukoro, in his ruling on Wednesday also stopped the Party’s scheduled LG Congress in Delta State slated for September 4, 2021.

The Deputy Chairman of the party in Delta State, Olorogun Elvis Ayomanor, had led other officials of the party in the state to the Court, challenging the outcome of the party’s Ward Congress of 31st July 2021.

The seven applicants prayed the court to among other things issue and service the originating summons on 15 defendants including the party, the Chairman Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee and members as well as, the Chairman of the party in the state.

The applicants also sought the court to issue an interim injunction to restrain the chairman and members of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee from acting or parading themselves as leaders of the party pending the determination of the case against the outcome of the ward Congress in Delta state before the court.

They also prayed for an interim injunction restraining the party from conducting the local government and state government Congresses slated for 4th September in Delta state pending the determination of the case before the court.

The statement said the High court in its wisdom ruled “This court has looked at the motion Ex-Parte dated 18th/8/2021 and filed 19th/8/2021seeking the reliefs as set out on the face of the motion paper.

“This court has also looked at the supporting affidavit along with exhibits attached as well as the written address containing legal arguments in support of the prayers sought.

“Reliefs 1, 2, 3 and 4 have to do with issues of service of processes on all parties in this suit. Relief 5, 6 and 7 are injunctive reliefs being sought in the interim. The affidavits in support contain sufficient grounds for the grant of the reliefs being sought. Reliefs 1,2,3,4 and alternative prayer 5 of the motion Ex-Parte are hereby granted.

“Alternative prayer 5 is granted only in relation to the 15th defendant (Jones Ode Erue, Chairman APC, Delta State). In compliance with order 39 Rule 7(3) of the Extant Civil Procedure Rules of this court, this order of injunction granted shall abate after 7 days.

“It shall not operate ad infinitum. This matter stands adjourned to 7th September 2021 by 10.00 a.m on agreement of counsel.”

Buni, however, said: “From the above, it is apparently clear that the court ruling only affected the 15th defendant (Delta state Chairman of APC) and not the National Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee and Yobe state Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni and other members of the committee, Which means the court ruling only affects the forthcoming ward Congress Delta state and does not affect other states.”

The governor, therefore, urged mischief-makers to stop twisting the court order to suit their own purposes.