The National Working Committee, NWC, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has sacked a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, P. 1. N Ikwueto, and his company as its legal representatives.
Their disengagement was contained in a letter dated 8 of October, 2024 and addressed to the senior lawyer with the title, ‘Letter of Disengagement as APGA External Solicitor.’
The letter, signed by the National Chairman of the party, Chief Edozie Njoku, also disengaged Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, C.I Mbaeri, Esq. Victor Agunzi, Esq. Tobechukwu Nweke, Esq, Chinedu Eze, Esq, Dr. Obinna Onya, Esq, Celestine Ezeokeke, Esq from representing APGA in (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/966/2024) or any other suit relating to APGA.
The party alleged some calculated, consistent and concerted efforts on the part of the lawyers “to cause a crisis in the party, through undue duplicity of suits (amounting to abuse of court process and forum shopping and brazen disrespect and disregard to subsisting orders/judgement of courts).”
The letter added, “For coincidence of doubt, the party (APGA) you claim to represent in Section 8 (VIII) (b) of the Party’s Owerri Constitution of 2019 (as amended) made it abundantly clear that it is only the National Chairman, Chief Edozie Njoku and/orMuhyideed Imam, Barr. Hamman Buba Ghide, the National Legal Adviser that can engage an External Solicitor for the party on any suit.
“As Chief Victor Oye’s Counsel, you are aware that it was myself (Chief Edozie Njoku, the National Chairman of APGA) that was removed in far away Jigawa and reinstated by the Supreme Court (SC/CV/687/2021) and the case dismissed as Forum Shopping; wherein the lead Justice, Honourable Justice Ukaego Peter Mary Odili (Rtd) inter-alia clearly stated, ‘it needs to be stated at this point that the dispute being who should be the Acting National Chairman of the 1st Respondent APGA and whether the Chairman, Chief Edozie Njoku was validly replaced are within the confines of the internal affair of the 1st Respondent which is not justiciable.’
“Similarly, in corroborating the said judgement, Honourable Justice Ukaego Peter Mary Odili (Rtd) stated succinctly in her letter dated the 7th day of November, 2022, ‘By this clarification it is to be noted that Chief Victor Oye was not a Party to the proceedings and the proper Party for whom the Judgment and orders referred is Chief Edozie Njoku.’
“Despite knowing that the right of representation of the party as a legal entity rests with Chief Edozie Njoku led Executives, whose approval must be sought and secured, before any litigation can be entered in the name of the Party, you went ahead to institute a matter in the name of APGA in Suit No; FHC/ABJ/CS/966/2024, as a Plaintiff, without the knowledge and approval of the Party.
“You are also in the know that this Judgment of the Supreme Court was enforced at the FCT High Court 40 Bwari, in the course of the proceedings an Order of Court was given by the Judge that there should be no primaries, congresses or conventions.
“This order was disobeyed by Chief Victor Oye and INEC (ISt and 2nd Respondents) respectively in that suit. Both Respondents disobeyed the Order of Court. Chief Victor Oye conducted an illegal convention wherein your client Mr. Sylvester Ezeokenwa emerged. He was charged for contempt, with Forms 48 and 49 served on them. The Court’s judgment found them guilty.
“It is imperative to note that, a day before the date for sentencing, Victor Oye and Co rushed off to the Court of Appeal and obtained an Order to Stay the sentencing pending the hearing of the appeal.
“At the Court of Appeal (CA/ABJ/724/2023), the order for stay was vacated and the judgement for contempt affirmed by the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal consequently, returned the case to the trial court for the sentencing which has been slated for the 28th day of October, 2024. In these cases, you were part of the legal team in both cases.
“As if that was not enough, Sir, you went back to the Court of Appeal to stay the judgment of the court, which was refused. While these were ongoing, INEC agreed with the true position of the law and immediately recognized me as the National Chairman of APGA and published my name in their official portal/website
“With all these facts at hand, I truly find it strange that you will go to any Court of law to represent APGA, knowing fully well that I am the National Chairman of APGA, who is fully recognized by the body in charge of regulating political parties in Nigeria, which is captured on their website; knowing fully well that there is no instruction given to you by myself or the National Legal Adviser you went ahead to file an action on behalf
of APGA.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I hereby debrief all of you and forbid you from further representing APGA in this or any other suit unless you are instructed by me or Barr Hamman Buba Chide, the National Legal Adviser.
“I truly find it strange that Learned Silks will go to the Federal High Court to represent our party (APGA), without due authorization from me as the recognized National Chairman of APGA by INEC.
“We hereby put you on notice that we have instructed Paul Erokorot, SAN, Barrs. Michael Ajara and Panam Ntui to act as External Solicitors to the Party in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/966/2024 and other matters that the party may deem fit.
“We are truly sorry for any inconveniences that the facts of this matter may have caused you.”