Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has fixed May 12, 2023, for ruling in a preliminary objection filed by Julius Abure, National Chairman of Labour Party (LP), the national secretary, Alhaji Farouk Ibrahim, Clement Ojukwu and Oluchi Opara.
They are challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain a matter filed by Martins Esikpali John; Lucky Shaibu; Isah Zekeri; Omogbai Frank; Abokhaiu Aliu; Ayohkaire Lateef; John Elomah and Dr Ayobami Arabambi.
The plaintiffs are seeking the removal of the four respondents through an ex-parte motion, marked M/7082/2023, brought before the court.
Justice Muazu adjourned the matter until May 12, 2023, after listening to the submissions of the counsels in the matter.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the first and secnd respondents, Alex Ejesieme SAN, informed the court that he filed an application dated April 13. 2023.
He said the application was seeking to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to adjudicate in the matter brought before it by the claimants.
Julius Abure and his National Executive Committee may be charged to court face the danger of forgery, conspiracy and perjury on the strength of police investigation on alleged forgery of signatures of candidates who won party primaries but their tickets were swapped with other persons, who Abure’s accusers insist paid him lofty sum.
Abure who has been suspended indefinitely by his Edo Labour Party Ward Executive for various offences such as forgery and perjury and subsequently removed as the national chairman, has attributed his travails to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its led government to undermine the Labour Party.