Abure Returns as Labour Party National Chairman
The Labour Party, LP, has announced the resumption of office of its embattled national chairman, Barrister Julius Abure.
Abure and three other leaders of the party – the General Secretary, Farouk Ibrahim, National Organising Secretary, Clement Ojukwu, and the Treasurer, Oluchi Opara – were suspended by an Abuja Federal High Court in April.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Thursday following a press conference held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Recall that the Labour Party had been enmeshed in a leadership tussle, with Lamidi Apapa and Abure fighting over the position of the national chairman.
The court, presided by Justice Hamza Muazu, gave an ex parte order that the officials should remain suspended, pending the hearing and determination of a suit challenging their continued stay in office over allegations of corruption brought against them.
However, an objection filed by the party over the issue of jurisdiction was overruled by the court.
According to Abure, the LP had also filed an appeal subsequently entered at the Appeal Court on Wednesday, which he said had been served on the trial courts.
He argued that the FCT High Court has ceased to have jurisdiction over the matter.
“By necessary implication the FCT High Court in Maitama ceases to have jurisdiction over the matter. The matter is now on the course list of the Court of Appeal. So, what the High Court judge is expected to do is to adjourn the matter sine-die.
“However, having appealed and file a motion for stay which has been served on the judge, I and my colleagues have now fully assumed our constitutional responsibilities as National Officers of the Party,” part of Abure’s statement read.
