ABUJA HIGH COURT JUDGE NULLIFIES MAKARFI AS PDP Ag CHAIRMAN

A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the caretaker committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

Justice Okon Abang, yesterday, held that the caretaker committee was illegally constituted and all the actions taken by it, including the appointment of legal representation, were unlawful, null and void.

He observed that there were two orders of Federal High courts in Lagos on May 12 and 20, which barred the PDP from taking steps on the tenure of Ali Modu Sheriff, adding that the orders were still subsisting when the party held its national convention in Port Harcourt on May 21.

“Based on the subsisting orders of the Federal High courts in Lagos on the 12th of May and 20th of May, and this honourable court as is presently constituted, Ali Modu Sheriff is the National Chairman of the PDP and has the authority to take decisions on behalf of the party,” he said.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ferdinand Obi, had in the suit by Sheriff filed on June 20 against INEC and PDP over his removal, informed the court that the Makarfi-led executive issued him a letter to represent it in court.

He argued that the order of a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on June 4, which restrained the Sheriff-led executive of the party, had neutralised the orders of the courts in Lagos.

But Olagoke Fakunle (SAN) brought another letter issued by the Sheriff-led executive as the authentic chairman of the party, appointing him to represent the party.

The judge said the Makarfi-led executive was illegal, adding that since the order of a high court in Port Harcourt was before the Appeal Court, he would leave it to be set aside by the court.

“Politicians should leave the Federal High Court alone unless they have genuine case. They should not be causing problems among judges,” he said.

Following the verdict of the court, other members of the Makarfi-led executive, through their counsel, Yusuf Usman Usman (SAN), brought an application for joinder as interested parties in the suit.

They are Ben Obi, Odion Ugbesia, Abdul Ningi, Kabiru Usman, Dayo Adeyeye and Aisha Aliyu.

The judge adjourned to August 15 ruling on the application.