Says Njoku not a party
The Supreme Court, yesterday, in Abuja, clarified the raging controversies and misconception of its judgment on the leadership crisis of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The apex court said the judgment delivered on October 14, 2021, was between one Chief Jude Okeke and APGA, including three other respondents, while one Chief Edozie Njoku was never made a party in the proceedings and judgment.

A statement by the court’s Director of Press and Information, Dr. Akande Festus, stated that Njoku, who sought to be joined in the appeal, was not granted and, therefore, not a party to the final judgment that resolved the leadership crisis.

The statement warned that any judgment order containing parties different from those on record did not emanate from the Supreme Court and should, therefore, be disregarded.

The statement reads in part: “Our attention has been drawn to the misconception being peddled by some members of APGA regarding judgment of the Supreme Court in Appeal Number: SC/CV/687/2021: Chief Jude Okeke Versus APGA and three others, delivered on October 14, 2021, which is causing confusion within the party, as well as the public space.

“To keep the record straight, we wish to state that the appeal, in respect of party leadership of APGA, which was filed in the Supreme Court against the judgment of Court of Appeal, Kano Division, by Chief Jude Okeke, as SC/CV/686/2021 and SC/CV/687/2021, contained the following parties: Chief Jude Okeke (appellant) and APGA, Chief Victor Oye; Alhaji Rabiu Aliu; Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as first to fourth respondents, respectively.

“It is worthy of note that the appeal arose from a primary election conducted by the party on May 31, 2019, at Owerri, Imo State, in which the third respondent (Rabiu Aliu) was elected Deputy National Chairman (North).

“The said third respondent, by originating summons, commenced an action, claiming, among other reliefs, to be recognised as chairman of the party on the ground that the chairman, who was suspended, had been replaced by someone other than him.

“The trial court dismissed the suit and confirmed Okeke the party’s Chairman.

“However, the third respondent, unsatisfied with the judgment, appealed to the Court of Appeal, Kano Division.

“However, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction as all the issues in contention took place in Imo State and not Jigawa State.

“Being unsatisfied with the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Okeke appealed to the Supreme Court against the aforementioned parties.