Nigeria’s Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, has set aside the decision of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, which restrained Julius Abure and two others from parading themselves as national officers of the party.
Ruling on an ex-parte application brought by Martins Esikpali John and others on April 5, 2023, Hamza Muazu, the presiding FCT Judge, had restrained Abure, Farouk Ibrahim, Clement Ojukwu, and Oluchi Opara from acting as national officers of the Labour Party (LP).
The high court also dismissed the objection raised by Abure challenging his removal as chairman of the LP.
Applicants had accused Abure and the others of forging several documents of an FCT high court to carry out unlawful substitutions of candidates in the last elections.
The defendants, however, approached the appeal court for redress.
Delivering judgement on Wednesday, Justice Hamman Barka held that the high court was wrong to have assumed jurisdiction on the matter.
The Appellate court held that Abure’s appeal has merit and was thereby allowed.
Justice Barka therefore set aside the ruling of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.
He also awarded N1m cost in favour of Abure and the other appellants against the respondents.