By Osiberoha Osibe, Awka
Less than 48 hours after his exit as factional National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Victor Oye faces contempt charge at the Federal High Court, Abuja, today.
Edozie Njoku, who is also claiming the party’s national chairmanship, brought the charge against him. In the petition, Njoku drew attention of the court to conduct of the party’s congresses by the Oye-led faction in defiance to a valid order of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Bwari, presided over by Justice Mohammed Madugu on May 10.
The National Vice Chairman, South West, of the party, Otunba Camaru Lateef Ogidan, and National Welfare Officer, Mustapha Rabiu, filed the application, on behalf of Njoku-led APGA.
They had urged the court to stop Oye from parading himself as the National Chairman of the party or holding meetings or gatherings, be it National Working Committee (NWC), National Executive council (NEC), congresses or convention in the name of APGA, pending hearing and determination of the motion on notice before the court.
Njoku loyalists equally prayed the court not to recognise Oye’s camp based on the Supreme Court Judgement of March 24. When the matter came up for hearing last Wednesday, counsel to Njoku’s loyalists, Mike Ajara, informed the court of the flagrant disobedience of its order by Oye and his cohorts.
Ajara observed that the contempt proceedings were filed and served on May 22, and had consequential outcome in Oye in the face of his scheduled ward, council and state congresses, which he had organised.
It is not certain if Oye would appear in court today, as his tenure has expired, following successful conduct of national convention of APGA in which the National Legal Adviser, Sylvester Ezeokenwa, emerged as new National Chairman.
At the convention, the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) was constituted with the former governor of the state, Willie Obiano, as the new Board Chairman.
Others members included: the out-gone National Chairman, Oye; governorship candidate of the party in Enugu State, Frank Nweke Jr; Senator representing Abia South Senatorial District, Enyinaya Abaribe, and the Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Uchenna Okafor, among others.
Source: The Guardian
