Court Bars Enugu SWC Members From Office

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The crisis rocking the Enugu State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC has taken a turn for the worse.

The combatants are digging deeper into the trenches.

This followed an interim order by an Enugu State High Court restraining the Barr. Ugochukwu Agballa-led State Working Committee, SWC, from further parading themselves in their various positions pending the hearing and determination of a  substantive suit before it.

The motion on notice has been fixed for Tuesday August 13 2024 for hearing.

The Source reports that  about two weeks ago, a faction of the party in the State led by Nwafor Onyeacholam, had slammed an indefinite suspension order on  the Agballah-led  leadership, citing alleged abuse of office as major reason.

But the embattled Agballa had also dismissed the suspension as the handiwork of fifth columnists, being prodded on by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State.

Ruling on an ex- parte  application filed by  Onyeacholam, the Acting State Chairman and others, including the Chairman of Forum of Local Government Chairmen of the party, Justice CVC Ezeugwu,  also  restrained the respondents either by  themselves and or privies from further accessing the offices of the party in the State .

“Upon an application by Motion Ex-parte brought pursuant to Order 3 Rule 24); Order 38 Rules 1, 2 and 4(a); Order 7 Rule 5; and Order 39 Rules 1 and 2 of the High Court Rules of Enugu State, 2020; Sections 6 and 36 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended); supported by a 46-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Chief Michael Ezeanyawu, and filed at the High Court Registry, Enugu on 2nd day of August, 2024; seeking an Order for Interim Injunction and Substituted Service

“AND AFTER Hearing the submission of J. N. Aloh, Esq. of Counsel, for the Plaintiffs/Applicants.

“The Court hereby orders as follows: An Interim Order of Injunction is hereby made restraining the 1st to 10th Respondents by themselves, their agents, privies, friends, servants, their self-acclaimed executives, cohorts or whatsoever name called, from acting and parading themselves as occupying any of the following positions/posts to wit: State Party Chairman, State Party Deputy Chairman, State Party Treasurer, State Party Organizing Secretary, Nsukka Local Government Party Chairman of APC, Igboeze South Local Government Party Chairman of APC, State Party Youth Leader of APC, Enugu South Local Government Party Chairman, State Party Publicity Secretary of APC and Enugu North Party Chairman, respectively of State Executives Committee, Enugu State Chapter pending the hearing determination Motion on Notice on 13th August, 2024.

“An Interim Order of Injunction is hereby made restraining the 1st to 10th Respondents by themselves, their agents, privies, friends, servants, their self-acclaimed executives, cohorts or whatsoever name called, from calling, arranging, organizing and holding any meetings, congresses or conventions as the leadership of APC State Executive Committee (SEC) and/or interfering, disturbing and meddling with the functions/activities of the Plaintiffs/Applicants (as well as other validly elected members of the said Executive) as the State Executive Committee of the Party in Enugu State, pending the  hearing determination of the Motion on Notice on 13th August, 2024”, part of the court order reads