Chief Njoku visits Neptune Prime, says INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu, ignored S’Court order recognising him as National Chairman
Story from Ibraheem Hamza MUHAMMAD
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has ignored an order by the Supreme Court of Nigeria to recognise Chief Edozie Njoku as the lawful national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
This was revealed to Neptune Prime by the Supreme Court recognised National Chairman of the party, Chief Edozie Njoku, when he visited the Chief Executive Officer and Publisher of Neptune Prime, Dr Hassan Gimba, in Abuja on Monday.
Based on the documents and the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the rulings presented to Neptune Prime by Chief Njoku, in a case between Chief Edozie Njoku as applicant and respondents, Chief Jude Okeke, All APGA Chief Victor Ike Oye, Alhaji Rabiu Garba Aliyu and INEC, the Supreme Court directed Nigeria’s electoral umpire, INEC, to act and recognise Edozie Njoku as the national chairman of APGA.
The ruling by a five-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on 24 March 2024, said it made a mistake in a judgement it delivered in 2021, where it erroneously wrote the name of Victor Oye as APGA national chairman instead of Mr Njoku.
In the ruling delivered by Mohammed Lawal, the Supreme Court restated its power to review its judgment and correct such an “Accidental Error,” when its attention was drawn to it.
Consequently, Mr Lawal ordered the removal of Mr Oye’s name as the national chairman of APGA.
The ruling was a result of a request by Mr Njoku to have the error corrected.
He (Mr Njoku) had written to INEC requesting it to recognise him as the party’s national chairman based on the Supreme Court’s final verdict.
The Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court ruling on the APGA leadership crisis between Messrs Njoku and Oye, who is also laying claim to the office, directed INEC to accord Mr Njoku recognition as APGA national chairman.
The proof of service of the ruling dated 5 April was on a case between Jude Okeke and APGA & others.
A copy of the directive was received by the Litigation and Prosecution department, INEC headquarters, Maitama, Abuja, on April 5th, 2023.
It says, “I forward herewith for your information and necessary action, the order under the hand of the Honourable, the Chief Justice of Nigeria/Presiding Judge and the seal of the Court in respect of the above appeal.
“I also enclose herewith the certified copy of the order and the judgment of the Court”. Signed by Zainab Garba, Registrar, Litigation, Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The politicians, Chief Edozie Njoku made the request for the mistake and for the correction of the judgment delivered by Rt Justice Mary Peter Odili, now a retired justice of the apex court, on 9 May 2022.
In the ruling, the Supreme Court said, “It is hereby ordered that the Appeal No. SC/CV/686/2021 set out on the face of the Judgment delivered by the (apex) Court on 14th October 2021 is to be corrected and replaced.
“That the name of “Chief Victor Oye” mentioned and set out on page 13 of the Judgement delivered by the Court on the 14th of October 2021 in Appeal No. SC/CV/687/2021 be deleted and replaced with the name “Edozie Njoku” so that the sentence on page 13 would now correctly read:
“It needs to be stated at this point that the dispute being who should be the Acting National Chairman of the 1st Respondent, APGA and whether the Chairman, Edozie Njoku was validly replaced are within the confines of the internal affairs of the 1st Respondent which is not Justiciable,” the judgement said.
Page 35 9f the CTC reads: ” …The applicant has satisfied that there was an error in the appeal number, reflected, on the front page of the lead judgment of Honourable Justice Mary Peter-Odili, (JSC) now retired and that the name on page 13 lines 3-4 of the lead judgment should read, Chief Edozie Njoku and not Chief Victor Oye.
Similarly, a High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory, in Bwari, Abuja has ruled contempt of court against Chief Victor Ike Oye of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman, and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
In a suit number FCT/HC/CV/4068/2023 between applicants Otunba Camaru Lateef Ogidan and Alhaji Rabiu Mustapha as applicants versus Chief Victor Ike Oye and Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) as respondents.
According to the CTC, “An order of this Honourable Court declaring the Respondents, Chief Victor Ike Oye, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, guilty of contempt of court, having failed to comply with the order of Court made on 10th May 2023 and appear before this Honourable Court to show cause why they should not be committed to prison for contempt of court.
“An order of committal of respondents, Chief Victor Ike Oye and Professor Mahmood Yakubu to Suleja Correctional Centre for failure to obey the order of this Honourable Court made on the 10th of May 2023 after being served with Forms 48, 49 as prescribed by law.
The law-abiding politician who sought the intervention of the judiciary instead of hiring thugs and disrespecting the law is praying for INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu to respect the judgment of the Supreme Court and recognise him as the duly elected chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Chief Edozie Njoku also urged Chief Victor Ike Oye to respect the judiciary and vacate his office by being a good citizen who respects the judiciary.
Those on the entourage of the lawful national chairman of APGA that paid the courtesy call on the Chairman of Neptune Prime Network, Dr Hassan Gimba are Deputy National Chairman, Honourable Freedom Henry Okwu-Chukwu; National Secretary, Muideen Gambari; National Vice Chairman, South-West, Otumba Camaru Lateef and National Organising Secretary, Ahmed Gimba.
