News
Defection: Judge stops hearing in suit against Matawalle
Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, stopped continuation of hearing in a suit filed against Gov. Bello Matawalle over his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Justice Ekwo said the move became necessary due to a similar matter pending before the Court of Appeal.
“I take full congnisance that there is an appeal in the similar matter pending in the Appellate Court.
“I will exercise a restraint until that matter is determined,” he said.
The development occurred shortly after the judge dismissed an application brought by 14 chairmen of local government councils in Zamfara, praying the court to join them in a PDP’s suit against Matawalle and others.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Matawalle, state and federal lawmakers from the state defected from the PDP to the APC.
But the PDP, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/650/2021 had prayed the court for an order removing Matawalle as governor over his defection to APC.
The party also asked the court to sack the senators, House of Representatives members and state House of Assembly’s members who decamped alongside the governor to APC.
NAN also reports that the 14 local government chairmen in the state had, on April 29, prayed the court to be joined as 39th to 52nd defendants and for all the processes to be amended and served on them.
The chairmen, through their lawyer, Emeka Okpoko, had argued that whatever decision was given by the court would affect their interest and the entire councils.
The chairmen are Ahmed Anka, Aminu Kofoji, Kabiru Ladan, Bashir Muawiya, Mohammed Sadiq, Abubakar Takwas, Sanusi Sarki, Nasiru Yakamata and Ummaru Maradun.
Others are Salisu Dangulbi, Abdulrahman Shinkafi, Dahiey Garbadu, Aminu Tsafe and Auwal Moriki
The applicants, in a motion on notice dated and filed on April 6, also said that whatever verdict delivered by the court would affect their federal constituencies, senatorial districts and the mandate given to the governor and all the lawmakers (5th to 38th defendants) in the state.
But Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, counsel to the PDP and Barrister Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed, the impeached deputy governor, opposed to the motion for joinder.
Ukala informed that a counter affidavit had been filed to the effect on April 13, urging the court to dismiss the application.
He argued that his clients did not make any claim against the chairmen that would have affected them.
In his ruling on Thursday, Justice Ekwo declared that the applicants were not necessary parties in the suit, hence, their application constituted an abuse of court process.
He held that there was no nexus between the applicants, who are local government chairmen, and the defendants that would have made them relevant in the matter.
“This application is incompetent and I made an order dismissing it,” he ordered.
The judge then asked counsel to the parties if they were ready to proceed on the substantive suit.
Although all the counsel who appeared in court said they were ready to proceed, lawyer to the lawmakers (5th to 38th defendants), Sylvanus Maliki, spoke on the contrary.
Maliki said he was in court to hold brief for Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, who was unavoidably absent, and that what he was told was that the businsee of the day was for ruling.
Justice Ekwo then said that he was aware of a similar matter pending before the Court of Appeal, saying he would exercise a restraint until the apex court case is determined.
He, therefore, said that the matter would be adjourned.
But James Onoja, SAN, who appeared for the plaintiffs (PDP and Barrister Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed), informed that part of their grievances was that there was an attempt to impeach Mohammed and that while the matter is pending, the state assembly went ahead to impeach him.
“And we filed a motion, praying that the impeachment should be reversed because as it is now, our client stands impeached in the eye of the law,” he said
Onoja expressed worry over the plan by the judge to adjourn the matter.
But Justice Ekwo assured that though the matter would be adjourned, the court’s final decision must be binding on parties.
Ekwo consequently adjourned the matter until Oct. 27 for hearing.(NAN)
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain the status quo in a dispute over the party’s candidates emerging from the Benue State APC primaries for the 2027 general election.
The order was made on Thursday by Justice Inyang Ekwo during proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, filed by Engr. Sesugh Akaagba and other aggrieved APC candidates from Benue State against the APC and INEC.
The plaintiffs had, through an ex parte motion filed on July 5, 2026, sought six interim reliefs, including an order restraining the APC from substituting its validly nominated candidates in Benue State through its June 29, 2026 correspondence, or any subsequent communication, to INEC, pending determination of the substantive suit.
They also sought an order compelling the APC to immediately transmit to INEC the names of candidates validly nominated during the primaries monitored by the electoral commission.
When the matter first came up on July 8, 2026, the court declined to grant the interim application immediately, directing both APC and INEC to appear and respond before any decision was taken. The matter was adjourned to July 16.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel representing the APC and INEC were present in court, while the plaintiffs were represented by Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, alongside his legal team.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that since issues had been joined by the parties particularly with INEC now before the court, the defendants were required by law to preserve the subject matter of the litigation pending determination of the substantive suit.
When counsel to the plaintiffs urged the court to caution APC and INEC against taking any further action that could affect the disputed list of candidates, the judge responded that it was “not a matter of advice but of law,” stressing that the defendants were bound to maintain the status quo.
The court consequently restrained APC and INEC from taking any action capable of altering the disputed list of candidates pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The defendants did not object to the restraining order.
At the commencement of proceedings, the court noted that all parties had voluntarily submitted to its jurisdiction by duly filing and exchanging their respective processes.
It held that there was no procedural or jurisdictional impediment to the expeditious determination of the substantive action, and directed that the matter be heard without further delay.
In furtherance of the objective of preserving the res and safeguarding the efficacy of the judicial process, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit, restraining any act or omission capable of prejudicing the rights of the parties or rendering the proceedings nugatory.
The court further directed that INEC be served forthwith with the originating and all consequential processes.
The effect of the subsisting order is that INEC is restrained from tampering with the existing list of candidates pending final determination of the suit, and from receiving, recognising, or acting upon any purported substituted list of National Assembly candidates from Benue State submitted by the APC.
The matter was adjourned to July 21, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former First Lady Patience Ibifaka Jonathan recently celebrated a significant family milestone as they attended the graduation ceremony of their son, Ariara Goodluck Jonathan, at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.
The proud parents joined family members and well-wishers to witness Ariara receive his degree, marking the successful completion of his academic programme. The occasion was filled with joy as the Jonathan family commemorated the achievement, highlighting the importance they place on education and personal development.
The graduation ceremony attracted warm congratulatory messages from friends, associates, and admirers, who wished the graduate continued success in his future endeavours.
The Following names joined the political family of Sen. Dr. George Akume today after leaving the sinking Alia ship .
Under the leadership of Barr. Emmanuel Jime .
The are ;
Chief Nelson Alapa
Douglas pepe SAN senatorial Aspirant zone A,
Engr Peter Ashiekaa
QS Clement Beetseh
Former commissioners
Joy Luga
Ann itodo
Barr martins Shaagee
Miss Dorcas
Prof Usar Joseh
Prof Cephas Tushima
Chief Patrick Idoko
Hon Patience Akor
Hon Fred Idoko
Hon Lawrence Ekpo Onoja Jnr
Hon Andrew Abah
Hon Agbo Innocent Ikwumonu
Hon Simon Omachoko
Hon David Egboja
Dr John Garba
Among together,
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