25th February, 2014
PRESS RELEASE
Justice Abdukadir Abdu-kafarati of the Federal High Court in Abuja will Wednesday 26th February 2014, rule in the All Progressives Grand Alliance former National Chairman Chief Victor Umeh’s application for a stay of execution of the judgment that sacked him and Alhaji Sani Shinkafi from office.
Umeh and Shinkafi approached the Court through their lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto SAN on 15th January 2014, seeking a stay of execution and an injunction restraining Chief Maxi Okwu and all the officers elected with him at the party’s national convention on 8th April 2013, at Awka, Anambra State from assuming their respective offices pending the determination of their appeal at the Court of Appeal.
Ikwueto urged the Court presided by Justice Abdulkadir Abdu-Kafarati to grant the application stating that a person who lost a litigation is entitled to approach the Court to make a preservative order. He urged the Court to grant an order maintaining status quo pending the determination of the appeal already filed.
Oba Maduabuchi lawyer for Maxi Okwu and all the officers elected with him opposed the application for stay of execution of the judgment and an injunction restraining the Okwu leadership from running the affairs of the party.
Maduabuchi urged the Court to strike out the application. He averred that the Court could not give judgment on one hand and collect it back with another hand, stating that the applicants (Umeh and Shinkafi) have not shown any special circumstance that would warrant the court to grant stay of execution.
Maduabuchi urged the Court to strike out the application emphasizing that the court had found that Umeh and Shinkafi were wrong to have occupied the positions of National Chairman and Secretary and would not allow illegality because they appealed the judgment that sacked them. Olawale Daudu who represented INEC supported the application.
Justice Abdul-Kafarati adjourned the matter to 26th February, 2014 for ruling. It could be recalled that the Court upheld the Maxi Okwu leadership of APGA on 15th January 2014.
Victor ChigozieEneh
Senior Special Assistant Media to Chief Maxi Okwu,
National Chairman, APGA
