National Telescope national telescope newspaper
A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has deferred its judgment on a lawsuit initiated by the dismissed executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, led by Chief Emeka Beke.
The court’s decision will be communicated to the parties within 48 hours.
The lawsuit targets the party’s National Executive and the seven-member Caretaker Committee headed by Chief Tony Okocha.
The sacked executives are contesting their dismissal and the subsequent appointment of the caretaker committee.
Filed by Sam Sam Etetegwung on behalf of himself and all other elected executive members of the APC, the suit also includes the Inspector General of Police, the Nigerian Police Force, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.
Etetegwung, along with Banarth Ezemoye and Ezekiel Ubom, is challenging their removal from office by Beke.
They argue that the dismissal was unjust and that the appointment of the caretaker committee was not legitimate.
During the resumed hearing on Thursday, lawyers representing both sides presented and finalised their written arguments, with each side defending their position before the court.
Justice Sika Aprioku, presiding over the case, listened to the arguments and announced that his judgment would be reserved.
The parties involved will be informed of the court’s decision within the next two days.
In an earlier ruling, Justice Aprioku dismissed an application for joinder by some APC members loyal to the party’s South-South Vice Chairman, Victor Giadom.
He found the application to be without merit and imposed a fine of N300,000 in favour of the claimants.
