Victor EzejaA faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has accused Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and Victor Oye of conniving with some police officers to arrest Chief Edozie Njoku on “trumped-up criminal charges.”
The faction alleged that the move was aimed at subverting a Supreme Court judgment that it claimed had been made in favour of Chief Njoku as the national chairman of the party.
In a statement signed by Muyideen Imam, APGA National Secretary on behalf of the party National Working Committee (NWC), the faction said it got information that Chief Njoku will be arraigned on Monday (today) at the FCT High Court, Abuja.
It said the court session will be presided over by Hon. Justice M. A. Madugu, in a criminal Charge No: CR/12/2022; with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) as the plaintiff, while Chief Edozie Njoku and Chukwuemeka Nwoga are the accused.
The statement said Njoku has not been served the court charge process, (up till the moment the statement was released), in line with the dictates of the law, alleging that it was an indication of a plot to ensure he doesn’t get justice.
The party has been enmeshed in a leadership crisis leading to the creation of two factions. Both factions have been in court over the matter. The other faction is led by Victor Oye.
The Director of Press and Media of the Supreme Court, Dr. Festus Akande issued a statement in September 2022, stating that Njoku was not a party in the proceedings and judgment of the apex court on the APGA leadership crisis. Akande said that Chief Njoku brought an application to the apex court to be joined as an interested party in the matter, but the court dismissed the whole appeal and also struck out all the motions for joinder.
However, the statement from the NWC claimed that a letter by retired Justice Mary Ukaego Odili had clarified the judgment and refuted the statement by Akande and others on the matter.
“We have it on good authority that trumped-up charges are menacingly and mendaciously being pressed despite the clarifications in Hon. Justice Mary Ukaego Odili’s letter which refuted the Press Statement by Dr. Festus Akande (Director of Press and Media of the Supreme Court) and the letter from Mrs. Hajo Sarki Bello (Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court) to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigerian Police denying the amendment of May 9, 2022, in Suit No: SC/CV/687/2021,” part of the statement released on Monday, November 21, 2022, indicated.
The faction said it has discovered a plot by Governor Soludo, Victor Oye, and other police officers to subvert the Supreme Court Judgment, and called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation to rise to the occasion and save the situation, especially as it affects the integrity of the judiciary.
They also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to formally recognise Njoku as the authentic national chairman of the APGA.
“We, the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) wish to inform the general public as follows;
“That we have uncovered a dangerous plot to subvert the Supreme Court Judgment being spearheaded and financed by Governor Soludo (with Anambra resources) and Victor Oye in connivance with some lawless corrupt police officers led by Mr. Ezekiel Rimamsomte (CSP) and Wisdom Emmanuel Madaki.
“They filed some spurious criminal charges against Chief Edozie Njoku, the National Chairman of APGA in Charge No: CR/12/2022 at FCT High Court; with the IGP as the (plaintiff), while Chief Edozie Njoku and Chukwuemeka Nwoga are the (Accused). They are spuriously alleging that Chief Njoku and Chukwuemeka Nwoga forged the amended Supreme Court Judgment on APGA Leadership.
“Recall that Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, JSC Rtd, in her letter of November 7, 2022, had confirmed the Judgment to be true and clarified all issues that modest, sincere, and honest minds need to know about the amended judgment of May 9, 2022. The essence of Justice Odili’s letter was to rest this matter of lingering APGA Leadership crisis once and for all.
“Unfortunately, Chief Victor Oye and Governor Soludo have used Anambra’s scarce and paltry resources to procure the likes of Mrs. Hajo Sarki Bello (Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court), Mr. Mohammed A. Dikko (Director of Litigation at the Supreme Court), Dr. Festus Akande, (Director of Press and Media at the Supreme Court) and Mr. Gbenga Owodolu (Court Registrar at the Supreme Court) in their failed attempt to subvert the Supreme court judgment.
“This is the first of its kind in Nigeria. Governor Soludo is leading a dangerous crusade on impunity targeted at ridiculing the integrity and image of Nigeria’s Apex court.
“We wish to call the attention of President and Commander-in-Chief of FRN, General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR to put a stop to this brazen madness.
“We call on the Attorney General of the Federation to please rise and act accordingly.
“We wish to call on the Chief Justice of the Federation to save the integrity of the Judiciary.
“We wish to call on the INEC Chairman to recognize Chief Edozie Njoku as the authentic National Chairman of APGA, as Chief Victor Oye derives the strength and audacity from the silence of INEC on this issue.
“Finally, Chief Edozie Njoku, our amiable and tenacious National Chairman, and the NWC have chosen this path not because it is likeable, but because it is difficult. We have chosen this path not because it is easy, but because it is herculean. We have chosen this path, not because it is enviable, but, because it is most challenging. For in these times and tides do great minds converge to plough their intellect and meet at that juncture where all forces that tend to frustrate nation building are dared and challenged; so as to offer a greater future for generations yet unborn,” the statement added.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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