Court Nullifies Order Against Benue APC Chairman, Reinstates Him

The Benue State High Court in Makurdi, on Monday, reinstated the suspended state chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Austin Agada.

The Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, gave the order while ruling on a motion seeking to set aside the interim order restraining Agada from parading himself as the Benue State APC Chairman.

Recall last week that a state high court in Aliade, Gwer East Local Government Area of the state restrained Agada from parading himself as chairman of the party.

One Agaba Moses secured the court order following Agada’s suspension by the leadership of his Ehaje council ward.

Consequently, the State Executive Committee of the party presided over by Governor Hyacinth Alia met last Wednesday to appoint Benjamin Omakolo as acting chairman.

But on Monday, the state’s Chief Judge set aside the restraining order on Agada, following the ex parte application by his lawyer, J.J. Usman, (SAN).

Justice Ikpambese in his ruling said under Order 39, Rule 3 of the Benue State High Court Procedure Rules, 2023, ‘the lifespan of an interim order is seven days, and since the order was issued on February 2nd, 2024, it has elapsed by law.’’

Justice Ikpambese also ruled that Justice Lillian Tsumba, who restrained Agada, did not have the jurisdiction to have given the interim order since the matter was not assigned to her by the Chief Judge.

The CJ went on to nullify the appointment of Omakolo as acting APC Chairman.