A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt is scheduled to commence full hearing on May 13 2024, regarding a lawsuit filed by the Chief Emeka Beke-led state executives of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State against the national executives and members of the seven-man Caretaker Committee in the state, headed by Chief Tony Okocha.
The suit, filed by Sam Sam Etetegwung on behalf of himself and all elected executives of the APC in the state, also includes the Inspector General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Independent National Electoral Commission as defendants.
When the matter came up for hearing in court on Thursday, counsel to the APC state executives, Collins Dike, requested time to respond to all processes filed by the defendants, a request not opposed by the defendants’ counsels.
Presiding Judge, Justice Sika Aprioku, after considering the counsels’ submissions, advised the parties to file and respond to the processes, and subsequently adjourned the case until May 13, 2024, for further hearings.
Aprioku also adjourned to the same date on a separate suit filed by local government and ward elected executives of the APC against the national leadership of the party, the Okocha-led seven-man Caretaker Committee, the Inspector General of Police, and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The state executives led by Beke, who were dissolved by the National Working Committee, NWC of the APC, are engaged in a legal dispute with the national leadership of the party, Okocha, and members of his committee over alleged illegal dissolution.
The plaintiffs are seeking reinstatement and judicial interpretation of the actions of the NWC of the APC, having previously secured ex-parte orders to serve the originating summons and other processes to the defendants, especially the first and second defendants, through substituted means.
Rivers APC leadership tussle: Court fixes date to commence hearing