Ensure reforms guarantee wellbeing of Nigerians, economic growth -Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has tasked the judiciary to ensure that justice sector reforms will guarantee the well-being of Nigerians and the economic growth of the country. He said this while declaring open, a 2-day National Summit on Justice 2024, organized by the Federal Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association and the National Judicial Council. The President was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the summit holding at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja. He said justice sector leaders and professionals need to find the right responses to the challenges we face through policy innovation, citizen-centered reform, systems change, and legislative reform, where necessary. Further in his speech, Tinubu insisted that the country needs judicial reforms that would enhance a functional justice delivery system that will aid a fast growing economy, guarantee basic human and political rights of individuals as well as provide security and justice to all Nigerians. He tasked the judiciary to align its activities within the tenets of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly as they relate “to the priorities on inclusivity, fairness, rule of law, and anti-corruption stance, among other things”. In accordance with his administration’s pledge to be impartial and adhere to constitutional principles, Tinubu said the National Justice Summit will avail institutions in the justice sector “with an opportunity to push boundaries by identifying needed system changes and critical reforms that would allow Nigerians to reap the benefits of huge investments in the sector.” He said much is achievable when institutions of government, including the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, unite to acknowledge their challenges and brainstorm with a view to proffering solutions to the problems bedeviling Nigeria. “I accordingly urge the leadership of all justice sector institutions to seek a new direction and focus on outcomes by creating a justice system that truly responds to the needs of our citizens – one that serves Nigerians now and for generations to come. “I demand informed and coordinated responses to the identified challenges plaguing the effectiveness and efficiency of the sector. “I demand performance so that Nigerians can feel and acknowledge the impact of your reform efforts. “Ultimately, the expectations are that law and justice should aim to ensure public safety, economic development, peaceful co-existence, and the well-being of our people” Tinubu stated. The Vice President said President Tinubu’s administration is determined to implement its policies and promises made to Nigerians for a renewed hope, through the instrumentality of the “law and the dictates of justice to create opportunities for our people”. While highlighting the preliminary measures he took in order to reposition the Judiciary in an effort to aid a just and rules-based Nigeria, President Tinubu recollected his administration made funding for the Judiciary a top priority, doubling it in the Renewed Hope budget 2024 by more that 100 per cent from last year’s budget. More so, Tinubu stated that in his administration efforts to reposition the judiciary, the Supreme Court of Nigeria now has a full complement of 21 Justices as required by law for the first time after many years. In addition, the President said he has made approval for a substantial increase in the salaries and emoluments of judges, which is currently undergoing legislative action. However, inspite of these progresses being made in the justice sector, Tinubu said there “is an urgent need for a functional justice system capable of supporting a rapidly growing economy, guaranteeing basic human and political rights of individuals, and providing security and justice to all.” In his welcome address, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, said the national summit seeks to address critical challenges in the justice sector. The AGF hinted that the summit will address the significant challenges plaguing Nigeria’s justice sector and pave the way for the much-needed reforms that will make justice more accessible to all Nigerians. One of the summit’s goals according to Fagbemi, is to review, validate, and adopt the revised National Policy on Justice 2024-2028 to drive prison reforms, access to justice for the average Nigerian, as well as the review of electoral laws and procedures in handling election related cases, among several other reforms. The summit, the Justice Minister said, will deliberate on draft legislations proposed to address specific identified challenges within the justice sector, relating to the judicial appointments process, administration, funding and budgeting for the judiciary, the elimination of delays and inefficiencies in justice delivery and to evolve ways to reduce the amount of time for adjudication of cases, eliminate some of the associated technicalities, and reduce the number of cases getting to the Supreme Court.

Alleged N89.2b money laundering: Court to rule on service of charge on Yahaya Bello through lawyer

Justice Emeka Nwite will Tuesday, rule on the application whether the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) can serve court processes on former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, through his counsel. At the last adjourned date, EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Piniero SAN, urged the court to compel the ex-governor’s lawyer to accept service of the processes, explaining that it has been impossible to serve the charge sheet on him personally. Counsel to Yahaya, Abdul Wahab Mohammed, said he doesn’t have the authority of the defendant to accept service of the charges and proof of evidence. He insisted that the Abuja division of the court or the EFCC cannot arraign his client adding that his preliminary objection application has to be taken first, but the EFCC came behind him through a motion-exparte to obtain a warrant of arrest. Therefore, the court adjourned to reconvene Tuesday for ruling. The EFCC , Thursday, informed Justice Emeka Nwite about its intension to invite the Nigerian Army to effect the arrest of former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello for arraignment before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. The anti-graft agency, through its legal team, issued the threat before the court after explaining how a person of immunity protected Bello from arrest following the court’s bench warrant. The court had fixed today(Thursday) for arraignment of Bello alongside the ex-governor’s nephew, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19- count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N80, 246, 470, 088.88. When it was called up, Thursday, EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Piniero SAN, said in open court that the Commission was aware that Bello has been harboured in the home of a person that has immunity. He submitted that immunity is only attached to a person, not his house or car, adding that the law allows Nigerian security agencies to break into a house to arrest a defendant. He said, Some of the counts read: “That you, Yahaya Adoza Bello, Ali Bello, Dauda Suliman, and Abdulsalam Hudu( Still at large), sometime, in February, 2016, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to convert the total sum of N80, 246,470, 088.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eight Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended”. “That you Yahaya Bello between 26th July 2021 to 6th April 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court aided E-Traders International Limited to conceal the aggregate sum of N3, 081, 804,654.00 (Three Billion, Eighty One Million Eight Hundred and Four Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty Four Naira) in account number 1451458080 domiciled in Access BankPlc, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a), 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act. “That you Yahaya Adoza Bello sometime in November 2021 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly procured E-Traders international Limited to transfer the aggregate sum of $570,330.00 (Five Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty Dollars) to account number 4266644272 domiciled in TD Bank, United States of America which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit, criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15( 3) of the same Act”. Bello’s arraignment followed a warrant of arrest and enrolment order granted the EFCC by Justice Emeka Nwite, Wednesday, in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024 and filed by the EFCC lead counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo. The EFCC counsel argued that the ex-governor needs to be apprehended by security agencies so as to fast track his arraignment in court and immediate trial. The anti-graft agency maintained that the judge should either order Bello’s arrest or issue a public summons commanding the defendant to appear before the court.

Bayelsa Guber: Tribunal reserves judgment in petition against Diri

The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has reserved judgment in a petition filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timipre Sylvia against the declaration of Douye Diri as the governor of the state in the November 2023 election. Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Adekunle Adeleye, on Monday in Abuja, announced that the judgment would be delivered within the 180 days statutorily allowed by law. The chairman said that all the parties in the petition would be communicated as soon as the judgment delivery date is fixed. At Monday’s proceedings, the petitioners, Sylvia and APC, adopted their final written address, praying the tribunal to annul the declaration of Diri as the winner of the election. Their lead counsel, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, told the tribunal that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, embarked on wrongful exclusion of results before arriving at the declaration of Diri as winner. The petitioners’ lawyer stated that the electoral body did not debunk the allegation of wrongful exclusion of results by not calling the state election result collation officer to testify. He therefore urged the tribunal to objectively decide the petition on the strength of the evidence adduced by the petitioners, especially because INEC did not call a single witness to challenge all the allegations. However, Diri’s counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, informed the tribunal that the petition by Sylvia died on arrival because it is grossly deficient in quantity and quality of evidence. He said that the petition was baseless, frivolous and vexatious, and grossly lacking in merit because the two petitioners did not discharge the burden placed on them by law Among others, Uche said that Sylva predicated his petition on alleged refusal of INEC to collate results in three local governments areas- Southern Ijaw, Nembe and Ogbia but failed to call a single collation officer to back up its claim Besides, Uche said that Sylvia did not tender voter register, BVAS machines, and form EC8A used for the purported election in the three local governments to establish his allegations. The senior lawyer also said that the petitioner himself, despite having a witness statement on oath, refused to give evidence before the tribunal to substantiate his allegations. The senior lawyer also said that the petitioner himself, despite having a witness statement on oath, refused to give evidence before the tribunal to substantiate his allegations. Uche pleaded with the tribunal to discountenance the evidence of a former Police Commissioner in the state on the ground that the police officer admitted before the tribunal that he had issues with Diri when the Prado Jeep earlier given to him was withdrawn. Uche also urged the tribunal not to invoke the spirit of the judgment that brought Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, into office, adding that INEC has established beyond doubt that election did not hold in the three local governments due to resistance by some hoodlums to the use of BVAS machines. Similarly, INEC, represented by Charles Edosomwan, SAN, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, represented by Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, canvassed for dismissal of the petition on the ground that the two petitioners failed and neglected to discharge the burden of establishing their allegations against the election beyond reasonable doubt as required by law. They asserted that they did not call witnesses because the witnesses of petitioners killed and buried the petition while being cross examined during the proceedings. It will be recalled that INEC had declared Diri winner of the gubernatorial election on the ground that he scored the majority of lawful votes cast in the poll.

Uzor Kalu’s Case Exposes Serious Deficiencies In Criminal Justice System

Global Centre for Conscious Living Against Corruption has expressed dissatisfaction over recent developments surrounding the N6.7 billion fraud case involving former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, and Jones Udeogu. The right group held that the situation has exposed serious deficiencies in the criminal justice system of the nation. The Director General of the group, Dr. Gabriel Nwambu, on a press statement released on April 19, informed that the utilization of technicalities and procedural loopholes to evade justice in the matter is deeply troubling and undermines the principles of accountability and fairness. The convener recall that the Supreme Court, had on the 8th of May, 2020, nullified the conviction by Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State, holding that the Constitution does not permit a judge elevated to a higher court to return to a lower court to conclude a part-heard case. Justice Ejembi Eko, who delivered the lead judgment of the panel led by Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour (retd.), also declared as unconstitutional the provision of Section 396(7) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which the then President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa (retd), relied on to authorized Justice Idris to return from the Court of Appeal to the High Court to conclude the trial. The decision by the Court of Appeal to dismiss the EFCC’s appeal based on insufficient records highlights how technicalities are being exploited to thwart the judicial process. Instead of addressing the substantive issues of fraud and corruption, the focus has shifted to procedural irregularities, allowing the accused to evade accountability and delay justice for the people of Abia State. The group insisted that Sen. Orji Uzor has been tried, found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction, and convicted accordingly, consistent with the extant laws as provided by the Constitution of Nigeria. According to Nwambu, the interpretation of legal provisions, such as the constitutional limitations on judges returning to a lower court to conclude a part-heard case, has been used to create confusion and delay in the adjudication of this case. He said that the insistence on strict compliance with procedural requirements, to the detriment of addressing the actual allegations of financial misconduct and massive fraud, is a disservice to the rule of law and the pursuit of justice. “It is unacceptable that technicalities are being prioritized over the merits of the matter, especially in a case as serious as an alleged N7.6 billion fraud. The manipulation of legal loopholes to avoid facing the substantive allegations undermines the integrity of our criminal justice system and erodes public confidence in the ability of our institutions to hold the powerful accountable.” Consequently, our coalition here by call on all stakeholders in the legal system to prioritize the fair and expeditious adjudication of cases involving financial crimes and corruption. The focus should be on addressing the substantive issues at hand and ensuring that justice is served without being derailed by technicalities and procedural obstacles. The coalition thanks President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his willingness and determination to combat the hydra- headed monster of corruption, which has held the Nigerian nation on her knees for several decades. The group informed that the pronouncement of the Attorney General of the Federation and Honourable Minister of Justice on the current case of the former Governor of Kogi State has shown Mr president’s determination to ensure that every alleged corrupt Nigerian citizen irrespective of creed, religion or office held is made to face the law is a clear testament to this fact The group therefore informed that it is time to reaffirm our commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that those accused of financial misconduct are held accountable, regardless of the legal maneuvers they may employ to evade justice.

BREAKING: Adoke discharged, acquitted of all charges as court dismisses EFCC’s second case

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the federal high court, Abuja, on Friday upheld the “no case” submission by Mohammed Bello Adoke, former attorney-general of the federation, on charges of money laundering. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged Adoke and Abubakar Aliyu, a property developer, to court in 2017, alleging money laundering to the tune of N300 million. Although there is no mention of the OPL 245 transaction in this case, the same particulars were also charged by the EFCC before Justice Abubakar Kutigi of the FCT high court in 2020. While the EFCC admitted before Ekwo that it was a mortgage that Adoke took from Unity Bank, it alleged before Kutigi that the money was a bribe from the sale of the oil block by Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd in 2011. On March 28, 2024, Kutigi pointed out the contradiction while dismissing the charges against Adoke and other defendants, chiding the EFCC for wasting the court’s time for four years. In his own ruling on Friday morning, Ekwo said the EFCC did not provide any evidence to prove the essential elements of the offence against Adoke, who was listed as the first defendant. He upheld the no case submission, discharging and acquitting, However, Ekwo ruled that Aliyu, the second defendant, has to open his defence because he has a case to answer.

N40bn fraud: Obiano loses bid to stop trial

The Federal High Court, Abuja, has refused to quash the N40Billion money laundering charges brought against the former governor of Anambra State, Willie Maduabuchi Obiano by the federal government. The trial Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling Thursday, faulted and rejected all grounds upon which the application was predicted by Obiano. The court held that all the reliefs sought by Obiano are not grantable because they are premature and lacking in merit. Meanwhile, Justice Ekwo permitted the ex-governor 60 days to travel abroad for medical treatment. He ordered that Obiano be made to sign an undertaking to return to the country after the treatment and to deposit his travelling passport within three days of his return to Nigeria. The former governor had, amongst others, prayed the judge to dismiss the 9-count charges instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC on behalf of the federal government. He claimed that there was no connection between the proof of evidence supplied to court by EFCC and the accusations against him. He averred that there was no testimony from any witness indicating that he issued directives for the disbursement of security votes and other funds belonging to the Anambra State government. Obiano also claimed that he can not be held accountable for any alleged unlawful actions by officials of the Anambra State government as there is no concept of vicarious liability in the criminal justice system. His motion on notice was brought pursuant to section 6 (6) (a) and (b) and section 36(6) (6) b of the 1999 constitution as amended and section 1(1) & (2), 266, 271(b), 383(4) &492 (3) of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act 2015. Among others, Obiano sought “An order of the court quashing the instant charge for it amounts to flagrant abuse of judicial process and a mockery of the criminal Justice “An order quashing the charge for non-disclosure of a prime facie case being vague and devoid of precision in respect of all the 9 count charges. “No prima facie case has been disclosed against the defendant in this charge. There is no link between the proof of evidence and the purported allegation made against the defendant in the charge “No evidence exists from any witness showing that the defendant passed down a directive for the disbursement of security votes and other funds belonging to the Anambra State government. “The defendant can not be made answerable for any purported unlawful actions of officials of Anambra State government as there is no vicarious liability in our criminal jurisprudence. “The thinking and conclusion of the prosecution on the counts arose from speculation and suspicions “The subject matter of the charge borders on accountability for security vote funds. The honourable court lacks the requisite jurisdiction to entertain issues on accountability for security vote funds “There is an appeal filed by the Anambra state government challenging the powers of EFCC to investigate the security vote of the Anambra state government. “The preferment of the entire charge is in bad faith. This honourable court has inherent judicial power to grant all the reliefs sought above. However, the judge said that there is no way the court would know whether the former governor is linked with the alleged offences or not unless the trial is conducted in line with the provisions of the law. The former governor is being prosecuted by EFCC on 9-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N40 billion. The matter is adjourned to June 24, 25, 26, and 27 for commencement of trial.

AGF faults Gov Ododo, asks Yahaya Bello to submit self for probe

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has called on the immediate-past governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to follow the path of decency and submit himself for probe. Bello is being wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged corrupt practices while in office as governor of Kogi State. In the last 24 hours, there have been dramas and hide and seek game between both parties over the move to arrest the former governor for arraignment this Thursday. Reacting to the development, the AGF, in a statement he personally signed on Thursday, said EFCC is empowered by law to invite any Nigerian for interrogation. He also described the action of the incumbent governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, who used his immunity to prevent Bello’s arrest on Wednesday as ‘disquieting’,. According to the Minister, embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism that can only put Nigeria in bad light before the rest of the world is not the way to go. He reiterated his stands for the rule of law and will ensure no right of any Nigerian is trampled upon. The AGF said in the terse statement: “The bizarre drama confronting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the course of its efforts to perform its statutory duty has come to my notice (Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice) as a matter of very grave concern. “It is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigation into any matter regardless of status. Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC but to honourably answer their invitation. “A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting. A flight from the law does not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbates it. “I state unequivocally that I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC and indeed any other agency to order when there is indication of any transgression of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies but I also tenaciously hold the view that institutions of State should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently. Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection. “I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism that can only put our country in bad light before the rest of the world.”

IPOB: Kanu to know fate on fresh bail, house arrest requests, May 20

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu will on May 20, knows his fate in his request for restoration of his revoked bail and the removal from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to house arrest. Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021 in a motion argued by Ejimakor requested the court to restore the bail granted him in 2017 by the same Judge. The embattled Kanu, had though his Counsel, Alloy Ejimakor, told the court that contrary to the claim of the Federal Government, he did not jump bail or breach any of the conditions of the bail but had to escape out of the country when the military allegedly invaded his house. He insisted that he would have been killed if he had not escaped the way he did and accused the FG of misleading the court to get the bail revoked in his absence. He also asked the court to set aside the arrest warrant issued against him by the court while he was out of the country. In a separate motion, also argued by his legal team, Kanu demanded his removal from the custody of the DSS to a house arrest or in the alternative, to remand him in prison. Besides, he asked that his lawyers must be allowed unhindered access to him to enable him prepare for his defense in the terrorism charges against him, adding that, untill those conditions are met by the Federal Government in line with Section 36 of the 1999 constitution, he would not submit himself for trial. However, counsel to the FG led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN, vehemently opposed granting of all the requests made by Kanu. He submitted that, in a criminal matter, no defendant has right to dictate to court how his prosecution would be conducted. Awomolo told the court that Kanu was once admitted to bail but breeched the bail by escaping out of the country under false claims. He argued that the fresh request for bail by Kanu is a gross abuse of court process, having been rejected earlier by the same court, adding that the only option available to the defendant is to go to the court of Appeal to challenge the rejection since the High Court cannot over rule itself. On the request for removal from DSS custody, Awomolo said that, the only safe and secured environment for Kanu remains the DSS custody in the interest of safety of his life. He urged the court to dismiss the allegation of hindered access to lawyers by Kanu, adding that, in his application and the supporting affidavit, he, Kanu failed to name any DSS operative hindering lawyers from accessing him or eavesdropping during conversation with lawyers. Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, a House of Representatives members, Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere praised the legal team of Kanu for standing to get fair trial for their client adding that, under the present circumstances, there would be no opportunity for Kanu to get better deal when his hands and legs are tied in the custody of the DSS. He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to end the trial logjam by ensuring out of court settlement for general peace to reign in the country. After taking arguments from both parties, Justice Binta Nyako fixed May 20 for ruling .

FG rejects Nnamdi Kanu’s conditions for resumption of trial

The Federal Government has kicked against conditions submitted by detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, for the resumption of his trial. During the hearing on Wednesday at the Federal High Court Abuja, Kanu agreed to acceleration of prosecution of the charges against him on the ground that his conditions are met. The IPOB leader, through his lawyer Aloy Ejimakor, listed three conditions that must be met before the trial could resume. Among others, he demanded that the bail granted him earlier be restored to enable him prepare for his defense. He claimed that the bail was erroneously revoked based on a false and fraudulent claim of the Federal Government. Kanu also requested that the setting aside of the arrest warrant issued against him based on allegations by government that he had jumped bail and escaped out of the country. He also demanded that his lawyer must be permitted to have unhindered access to him as required by law. He insisted that he would be willing to face accelerated trial once the conditions are met. Responding, counsel to the FG, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, asked the court to reject the conditions on the ground that they are frivolous, vexatious, irritating and baseless. He maintained that the court had earlier rejected the bail application and as such the court cannot over rule itself. Awomolo argued that the only option open to Kanu is to go to the Court of Appeal to challenge the rejected bail request. Reacting, Justice Nyako has given Kanu two options to choose either the court adjourned the matter sine dine(indefinitely) or allow the federal government call its witness. As at the time of filling this report, the court is on stand down to enable Kanu make a choice.

PDP Meetings: Court to rule on Uche Seconds motion seeking stay of execution

Justice Inyang Ekwo, Wednesday, adjourned till Thursday to rule on a motion filed by a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus seeking the stay of execution of the order of the court restraining him and two others from participating in PDP meetings. The federal high court Abuja will be ruling in an ex-parte motion filed by a PDP member from Rivers State, Titus Jones, seeking an order restraining Secondus from attending party meetings. Uche Secondus; the PDP; Acting Party National Chairman, Umar Damagun; PDP National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; PDP National Executive Committee; PDP National Working Committee; PDP Board of Trustees and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC are first to eight defendants respectively. Justice Ekwo, who made the order following a motion ex-parte, brought his court by Titus Jones granted the seven prayers, which, among other things, sought to stop Secondus from participating in the meetings slated to hold next week. When the matter came up on Wednesday, the court was informed of an appeal filed by the former PDP national chairman against that order of the court issued on April 5th, 2024. Titus Jones, a member of the PDP had filed a suit seeking an order restraining the NEC, NWC, party’s chairman, secretary, and BoT from allowing Secondus to attend any of the meetings pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice, having been suspended from the party. According to Justice Ekwo, in his ruling on the exparte motion filed by Jones held that, “Order is hereby made restraining the 1st Defendant from demanding for any notice of National Caucus meetings or meetings of the National Executive Committee (5th Defendant) or Board of Trustees (7th Defendant) or any other meetings of the 2nd Defendant from the 4th Defendant pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice. “Order is hereby made restraining the 1st Defendant from attending any meeting of the 2nd Defendant, be it caucus meetings, meetings of the National Executive Committee (5th Defendant) or Board of Trustees (7th Defendant) or any other meeting howsoever described participating in the proceedings, deliberations of any such meeting pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice. “Order is hereby made restraining the 4th Defendant, his Agents, Servants, Subordinates, Officers howsoever described from giving any notice of meeting of the 2nd Defendant be it caucus meetings, meetings of the National Executive Committee (5th Defendant) or Board of Trustees (7th Defendant) or any other meeting however called to the 1st Defendant who has been suspended from the 2nd Defendant pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice. “Order is hereby made restraining the 2nd defendant, its Officers, Servants, Agents, Privies, Organs howsoever described from granting access or allowing the 1st Defendant to attend and/or participate in the meetings of the National Caucus, the National Executive Committee or the Board of Trustees or any other meeting of the 2nd Defendant while his suspension subsists pending the hearing and determination ofthe Motion on Notice. “Order is hereby made restraining the 8th Defendant, its Officers, Servants, Agents howsoever described from according recognition to the report, proceedings, conclusions or resolutions reached at any meeting of the 2nd Defendant held in violation of the judgment in the case of Ibeawuchi Ernest Alex & 4 Ors, V. Prince Uche Secondus Suit No: PHC/2183/CS/2021 and Articles 30 (1) (S), 31(1) (u) and 32 (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (as amended in 2017) pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice”, among others.