Appeal Court reserves ruling in PDP leadership crisis

The Justice Ibrahim Salauwa-led panel constituted to hear all appeals from the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reserved ruling.

The appeal was filed by chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, Ahmed Makarfi and secretary, Ben Obi, against a Federal High Court judgment which withdrew their recognition as national officers of the party.

The three-member panel, after taking arguments from all concerned parties yesterday, reserved judgment, saying the date would be communicated to all litigants.

Also yesterday, the arraignment of the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Ahmed Gambo Saleh and two others, was postponed due to the absence of the second defendant.

Others for docking were the apex court’s Director of Finance and the Chief Accountant, Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif and Rilwanu Lawal.

At yesterday’s sitting, counsel to the second defendant, Dr. Garba Tetengi (SAN), told the court that his client was sick. But the prosecution counsel, Charles Adeogun Philips said he was not served any evidence.

Consequently, the trial judge, Justice Abba Mohammed, adjourned the arraignment to December 15.

The trio are standing a joint trial on a nine-count criminal charge of alleged diversion of N2.2 billion belonging to the court.

The accused were alleged to have agreed to divert the sum into a personal bank account, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 96 of the Penal Code Act.