By Jonathan Elendu
There are indications that Gov. Chukwuma Soludo and his allies are working round the clock to get the Supreme Court to reverse itself.
According to very reliable sources, the governor told his cronies recently that he is “doing everything in his power to get the Justices to act in his favour. ”
The former Economics Professor had boasted to his followers in July that Edozie Njoku, the National Chairman of APGA, would be thrown out of the office shortly. This was after he met Njoku and pleaded with him to give “a little time to study the matter.”
Instead of reverting to Edozie Njoku as he promised, Soludo directed his acolyte, Bar. Sly Ezeonwuka to sue the National Chairman of APGA and INEC at the FCT High Court presided by Justice Omotosho.
The suit sought to re-litigate the APGA leadership dispute already settled by the Supreme Court in their judgment of March 24th, 2023, and which was enforced by FCT High Court 40, presided over by Justice Madugu Mohammed on June 6th, 2023.
Judgment of Justice Madugu Mohammed, also found Victor Oye and INEC chairman guilty of contempt. The judgment also nullified the congresses and convention which was conducted by Oye and elected Sly as chairman. Oye appealed the judgment to the Abuja Division of the Appeal Court.
On 28th June, 2024, the Appeal Court resolved all the 10 points raised by Oye in favour of Otunba Kamaru Lateef Ogidan and Alhaji Rabiu Mustapha, who were the plaintiffs in the FCT High Court suit to enforce the Supreme Court judgment. The Appeal Court Panel of 3 described Oye’s convention of 2023 as “fraudulent.”
Gov. Soludo’s meeting with Chief Edozie Njoku at his Abuja home was to stall while waiting for Sly’s suit at Justice Omotosho’s Court to play out. Sly Ezeonwuka had asked for an exparte order to reverse INEC’s recognition of Edozie Njoku, which came as a result of the Appeal Court judgment.
Sly was disappointed that Justice Omotosho declined to make the order and directed that Njoku and INEC be put on notice.
At a recent press conference in Abuja founder and pioneer National Chairman of APGA, Chief Chekwas Okorie, had lamented the protracted leadership dispute which had kept the party in court for decades. “APGA has been in court for 20 of the 22 years of its existence.”
Obviously, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo did not get Okorie’s memo as he has embarked on a full scale effort to keep APGA in the court.
Sources at a meeting the governor held with his closest associates recently, told Elendureportsonline.com the governor boasted that, “the matter of Edozie Njoku’s removal at the Supreme Court is settled. I have people working on it and I have been assured of victory.”
Elendureportsonline.com sources have been made aware of the governor’s asset at the Supreme Court. One of the sources who is the governor’s acolyte confirmed that Gov. Soludo procured the services of a judge who was recently elevated to the Supreme Court.
The Justice is said to be close to some South East governors, one of whom is suspected to have been instrumental to her elevation to the apex Court.
“She was a controversial judge at her last place of assignment outside Abuja but our governor seems to like and respect her a lot,” said a source to us.
This reporter was told by multiple sources that the Justice is trying to convince her colleagues to take up the APGA leadership matter again, contrary to the new rules announced by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola towards the end of his tenure.
“How can the Supreme Court take up the issue of APGA leadership again barely eighteen months after they decided on the matter?
This is exactly what the new rules are trying to stop. The way this Soludo guy is treating the Judiciary is repugnant to common decency. It’s baffling that he is aided by very senior lawyers who ought to know better,” another source who is a senior lawyer told us.
Elendureportsonline.com cannot independently confirm these allegations but the story has gained traction within legal circles in Abuja.
Gov. Chukwuma Soludo is a man known for his obstinacy which is bolstered by his numerous attempts to use cronies to subvert courts in Nigeria.
According to Chekwas Okorie, “the other side believes that what money cannot do does not exist.”
How the APGA leadership saga plays out at the Supreme Court would signal to Nigerians the direction the new Chief Justice of the Federation, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun plans to take the Judiciary.
The new Chief Justice of Nigeria was a member of the panel that decided the APGA leadership dispute.
