JUST IN: Appeal Court Affirms Abure As Labour Party Chairman, Fines Apapa N1 Million
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Wednesday (today), affirmed Julius Abure as the Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
The Appellate Court has also overturned the decision of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, which had previously restrained Abure and two others from assuming the positions of national officers within the party.
According to the judgement delivered by Justice Hamma Barka, the Appellate Court deemed the high court’s assumption of jurisdiction on the matter as incorrect.
Furthermore, the Appellate Court ordered the respondent, Lamidi Apapa, to pay one million Naira as costs in favour of Abure.
Last year, Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court had granted an ex-parte order, prohibiting Abure and the two other national officers from presenting themselves as party leaders due to allegations of forging national documents. However, the Appellate Court has now overturned this verdict.
The Appellate Court has recognized the merit of Abure’s appeal and has consequently allowed it.
After the 2023 presidential election, in which LP’s Peter Obi secured third place, Abure found himself embroiled in a lengthy legal dispute with Apapa, who claimed the party’s chairmanship.
On March 21, 2024, Abure was apprehended in Benin City, the capital of Edo State. Viral videos circulated, depicting him being forcefully handled by policemen, while LP supporters fiercely resisted his arrest.
The police justified Abure’s arrest on charges of attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms, and other related offences.
However, following protests from LP members, the chairman was eventually released on bail the next day
