Legal Affairs
APGA: Jittery Oye recants in court, denies holding NWC, NEC meetings, congresses
The embattled former National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Ikechukwu Oye, reportedly got jittery in court on Wednesday, May 17, and denied holding National Working Committee (NWC) or National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings or congresses to avoid jail term over contempt of court.
Recall that News Band reported on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, that the Federal Capital Territory High Court 40 sitting in Bwari, Abuja, ordered Chief Oye to stop parading himself as the National Chairman of the party.
The court also restrained him from holding any gatherings, meetings, Congresses or Convention in the name of APGA NEC or NWC, declaring such congress and convention as null and void.
This medium, however, reported on May 13 that Chief Oye held a NEC meeting in Awka, the Anambra State capital, in clear defiance of the Federal High Court order that barred him from doing so.
During the resumed hearing of the matter on May 17, the purported congresses held by Chief Oye had hit the wall as his lawyer, Ifeanyi Mbaeri, Esq, while defending him from contempt of court before Justice M.A Madugu of the FCT Court in suit number FCT/HC/CV/4068/2023, denied the NWC, NEC Meeting or Congresses.
Instantly, Justice M. A. Madugu, the presiding Judge quickly asked Mbaeri to file an affidavit stating exactly what he said while addressing the Court.
The Court had further ordered that Oye, his assigns or privies should not hold meetings, gatherings or conduct any activities in the name of the Party and ordered a return to Status Quo Ante Bellum which was hinged on the Supreme Court Judgment of March 24, 2023.
Contrary to the order of the Court Oye damned the consequences and proceeded to hold NWC, NEC Meetings and Congresses.
There are plethora of newspaper reportage backed with pictorial evidences which showed Chief Victor Oye and Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State presiding over the NWC and NEC meetings at Awka, where they ratified the ongoing Congresses and Convention, in the name of APGA.
Prior to the Court Order, Oye had made a publication in Page 20 of ThisDay Newspaper of April 21, 2023.
The said advertorial confirmed public suspicion that Oye may have the full backing of Governor Soludo and Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to political pundits, besides the grave danger associated with flouting Court Order, the act could pollute public perception about the Judiciary and could drain the peoples’ confidence in the legal system and potentially trigger resort to self-help.
Rattled by Oye’s brazenness and audacity to commit impunity, various newspapers captures it thus;
(a) Victor Oye dares court, ignores order, convenes APGA NEC meeting in Awka – News Band
(b) Victor Oye Ignores Court Order, Convenes APGA NEC Meeting in Awka – Daily Independent Newspaper – May 14, 2023
(c) APGA: Oye Convenes NEC Meeting Despite Court Order – The Nation – May 15, 2023
(d) Oye Defiles Court Order Convenes APGA NEC Meeting – ThisDay – May 15, 2023
(e) Oye’s APGA Dismisses Njoku Approves Convention – New Telegraph – May 14, 2023.
(f) Oye Ignores Court Order, Convenes APGA NEC Meeting in Awka – May 15, 2023
(g) Oye dares Court, Convenes APGA NEC Meeting – Sun Newspaper May 15, 2023
To crown it all, on May 14, 2023 Mr. Tex Okechukwu, Esq, one of Oye’s protégés published an advertorial in Page 16 of Sun Newspaper with the caption “Public Notice: Guidelines and Schedule of Activities for Elective Congresses/National Convention 2023″.
Furthermore, on May 16, 2023 Dr. Alex Obiogbolu (SA to the Governor of Anambra State on Political matters) signed off a press release with the caption “Public Service Annoucement – Complaints Of Micro Zoning In Central” as the Chairman Anambra State APGA Congress Committee.
The implication of this, it was observed, is that Victor Oye, Tex Okechukwu and Alex Obiogbolu have walked into the trap of the Court by their deliberate disobedience to a subsisting Court Order.
Going by what transpired in the court at the last sitting, the entire Congresses being conducted by Oye and his group are clearly an exercise in futility as it has been outrightly denied by Oye’s lawyer, since admitting such before the trial Judge has dire consequences.
The question before observers presently is:
- Why has INEC allowed itself to be used to the extent of standing against a subsisting Court Order?
- How will the Commission account for the tax payers money which it used to monitor the NWC, NEC meetings and congresses which it knew was against an order of Court?”
Given the fusillade and throng of evidences which the Mr. Mike Ajara. Esq (the plaintiffs’ lawyer) have filed in his further affidavit before Justice Madugu’s Court which confirms that Oye and his stooges may have walked into a very deadly and consuming trap, Mr. Mbaeri may be putting his wig in ring if he dares file any Counter affidavit contrary that what he told the Court on May 17, 2023.
Speaking to News Band over the development, an APGA stalwart, who spoke on condition of anonymity, observed:
“Anyone that has followed the APGA leadership crises since May 31, 2019 would agree that Oye and his sponsors have a track record of being rude and daring towards Court Orders and Judgments.
“On April 6, 2022, the Justice A. R Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in the issue of legitimate representation for APGA, gave a Judgment declaring that Chief Edozie Njoku’s Legal Adviser, Barr. Hamman Buba Ghide, as the authentic Legal Adviser of the Party, having emerged from the Owerri Convention; and not Barr. Sylvester Ezeokeknwa.
“On April 11, 2022, the above Court Judgment was served on INEC requesting them to recognize Chief Edozie Njoku as the authentic National Chairman of APGA. The Commission refused, thereby proving Oye with the opportunity to continue with festering his iniquity.
“On May 9, 2022, Hon. Justice Ukaego Mary Peter Odili (JSC) corrected the error in Page 13 of her Lead Judgment of October 14, 2021. The Supreme Court amended Judgment was served on INEC requesting them to recognize Chief Edozie Njoku as the authentic National Chairman of APGA. The Commission remained adamant, thereby tacitly and stealthily ignoring the Supreme Court Judgment.
“On March 24, 2023, the Supreme Court finally corrected its Judgment of October 14, 2021; it deleted Oye’s and replaced it with that of Chief Edozie Njoku.
National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Edozie Njoku, at the Supreme Court, March 24, 2023
“The Enrolled Order of the Court was served on INEC on April 5, 2023. Yet, INEC is recalcitrant in honoring the March 31, 2023 letter to the Chairman of INEC requesting for Chief Edozie Njoku to be recognized as ordered by the Supreme Court.
“The question is, on what grounds is Oye’s name being retained on INEC’s website?
“Although, there are reports that INEC monitored Oye’s illegal Congresses, especially in the Southeast. This manner of abuse of office and flagrant disregard by INEC unravels the caliber of man at its helms, especially Mr. Aminu Idris, the Director of Election and Party Monitoring of INEC, Abuja.
“It is truly worrisome that Mr. Idris would mandate the Head of Departments of INEC in all the States of the Federation to ignore the Supreme Court Judgment of March 24, 2023 and also disobey May 10, 2023 Court Order of the FCT High Court. Again, the question is, who is Aminu Idris working for?”
Our reporters reached out to people in the field about the ongoing illegal APGA Congresses and they have this to say;
- Micheal Egbonwachi, an APGA stalwart at Amechi Idodo/Oruku Ward in Nkanu East LGA of Enugu State laments that the Congress is a ruse. He berated Gov. Soludo for working through Oye to install another illegitimate executive. When contacted for comments, Mrs Ginika Uche Nwankwo, the Head of Department of Election and Party Monitoring of INEC at Enugu State refused to provide more details about the role the Commission at Enugu is playing in the illegal congress, except stating, on phone, that INEC is monitoring the Congress.
- Nkoli Emenike of the Awkuzu Ward I Amakpu Square in Oyi LGA of Anambra State, an APGA member said she distanced herself from the plot to disobey Court Order. According to her, ‘it is unheard of that a sitting Governor will be encouraging impunity against the Court.’
Attempts to reach Mr. Emmanuel Isong, the Head of Department of Election and Party Monitoring of INEC in Anambra State proved abortive as his lines remained unreachable. However, other members of staff that we spoke to on condition of anonymity said the Commission is monitoring the Congress.
John Nkaranegwu from Obiakpu Ward in Ohaji Egbema LGA of Imo State said that they have waited for the Congress to commence to no avail. He said, ‘there are no traces of Oye and his men here,.’ adding, ‘I heard they have written a list as usual and submitted to Abuja. This is why the Party isn’t getting any better.’
A call to the phone of Sir. Victor Nwokeabia, the Head of Department of Election and Party Monitoring of INEC in Imo State wasn’t reachable as at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, Mbaeri, Counsel to Oye is contending the jurisdiction of the Court to entertain the matter which he filed in his Preliminary Objection.
The Court adjourned till May 25, 2023, as the Court Order persists. Read more.
—
©Copyright 2023 News Band
(If you would like to receive CURRENT NEWS updates from News Band on WhatsApp, or Telegram, or wish send eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to elstimmy@gmail.com and we will respond instantly. Follow us on twitter @News Band; like our Facebook page: News Band.)
Continue Reading
Relatives of the 13 wedding guests killed in Plateau State have condemned the State High Court’s decision to release 20 suspects on bail.
The victims were brutally murdered on June 12, 2025, when a mob attacked their bus in Mangun district, Mangu Local Government Area.
They were traveling from Kaduna State to attend a wedding in Qua’an Pan LGA before tragedy struck.
According to reports, the group lost their way and entered a volatile community already shaken by recent terrorist activity.
Local youths allegedly mistook them for bandits and launched a deadly assault, leaving 13 people dead on the spot.
Following the killings, security operatives arrested 21 suspects.
In an earlier court sitting, 20 of them were remanded at the Jos Correctional Center while investigations continued.
However, on Wednesday, August 20, Justice Nafisa Lawal Musa granted bail after a motion filed by defence counsel, Garba Pwul (SAN).
This ruling has triggered outrage among the families of the victims, who insist the development is a slap in the face of justice.
Mallam Abdullahi Tahir Balami, a relative of one of the deceased, condemned the court’s action.
Speaking to reporters, he described the ruling as suspicious and raised concerns about possible foul play.
“With this development, we are now questioning the commitment of the Plateau State government to justice,” Balami said.
“It is saddening that suspects in a multiple homicide case can be released on bail.”
Another relative, Mallam Ubale Anguwar Dantsoho, who lost several family members, also expressed anger.
He described the decision as shocking and warned that justice may never be served.
“How can suspects in a murder case be granted bail?” he asked. “It shows that our system is failing us.”
Maryam Usman, widow of the driver killed in the massacre, expressed her heartbreak.
She said she struggled to understand why suspects linked to such a crime would be freed.
“What kind of court is this?” she asked in despair. “Instead of justice, the court dashed our hopes. We no longer believe justice will come.”
Her words echoed the feelings of many families now convinced that the judiciary has abandoned them.
Human rights activists are also calling for urgent intervention from both the state and federal governments to ensure accountability.
The Plateau killings have become one of the most disturbing tragedies in recent months.
The case now highlights the growing tension between grieving families and a judicial system accused of ignoring victims.
The Court of Appeal in Sokoto has upheld the Federal High Court’s decision dismissing former Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle’s challenge over the confiscation of over 40 official vehicles seized from his residence after he left office in 2023.
Delivering its unanimous verdict on August 8, 2025, a three-member panel led by Justice A.M. Talba ruled that Matawalle failed to provide credible evidence proving personal ownership of the vehicles.
The court emphasized that the vehicles were government property, not private assets, and rejected his claim that the seizure violated his fundamental property rights.
According to Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal’s spokesman, Sulaiman Idris, the vehicles were recovered in June 2023 after Matawalle and his deputy ignored a five-day ultimatum to return them.
Following their refusal, the state government sought and obtained a court order, enabling police operatives to raid Matawalle’s residence and recover the vehicles.
Initially, Matawalle secured an interim ruling from the Federal High Court in Gusau for the vehicles to be returned to him.
He also filed a separate suit claiming the confiscation breached his fundamental rights.
However, the case was transferred to the Sokoto division of the Federal High Court, which dismissed his claims in December 2023, affirming that the vehicles remained state property.
Dissatisfied with the lower court’s ruling, Matawalle escalated the matter to the Court of Appeal.
The appellate court, however, upheld the Federal High Court’s decision, affirming that the police acted lawfully in investigating the alleged misappropriation and that the state government followed due process in retrieving the vehicles.
The court concluded that Matawalle’s claims lacked merit and could not shield him from investigation or potential prosecution.
The leadership crisis tearing the Labour Party apart appears to have reached a turning point as the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, struck out Julius Abure’s case against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), officially affirming that he is no longer the party’s National Chairman.
The court, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1523/2025, dismissed Abure’s suit due to a lack of jurisdiction, aligning with the Supreme Court’s earlier verdict on April 4, 2025 (Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025), which voided all prior recognitions of his leadership.
However, while speaking on the judgment, Senator Nenadi Usman, the party’s Interim National Chairman, described the ruling as a clear victory for the rule of law.
“This decision removes every lingering doubt about Abure’s status. The chapter is closed. It’s time to put distractions behind us and rebuild the Labour Party into the disciplined, people-centred movement Nigerians deserve”, she said.
Also, INEC’s counter-affidavit in the case further solidified the court’s position, stressing that Abure’s tenure, along with that of the National Executive Committee, had expired in June 2024.
The commission also argued that the controversial March 27, 2024 “Nnewi National Convention” was invalid as it violated the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, INEC guidelines, and the Labour Party’s own constitution.
Senator Usman commended the electoral commission for its “clarity, courage, and institutional integrity” in presenting the facts and urged party members to “respect the supremacy of the Constitution and the authority of the courts.”
With bye-elections on the horizon and the 2027 general elections in sight, this ruling could mark the end of a year-long factional battle that has plagued the party.
The focus now shifts to uniting the Labour Party and preparing for the political challenges ahead.
On August 8, 2025, the Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, upheld NNPC Ltd.’s appeal against the Federal High Court’s April 2023 judgement that annulled Senator Ifeanyi Araraume’s removal as non-executive Chairman of the NNPC Board and awarded him ₦5 billion in damages.
The Court of Appeal’s judgement spares NNPC Ltd a massive financial payout and removes a legal risk that could have invalidated all decisions of the Board since 2021.
The Appeal Court agreed to NNPC Ltd.’s position that the Federal High Court’s earlier decision was delivered in error, noting amongst others, that the claim was statute-barred.
This decision of the Court of Appeal secures governance stability for NNPC Ltd., sets a corporate governance precedent in Nigerian law, and upholds the validity of Board resolutions critical to the oil and gas industry’s investment and policy direction.
An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday cleared Miss Comfort Emmason of all charges related to unruly behavior and assaulting the flight crew aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos.
Magistrate Olanrewaju Salami struck out the five-count charge following the withdrawal of the case by the police prosecution team.
During the hearing, prosecutor Oluwabunmi Adeitan informed the court of new developments that led to the decision to discontinue the case.
She submitted a formal application for its withdrawal, which the court accepted, effectively bringing the matter to a close.
-
Featured4 days agoYour Attacks on Peter Obi Are Petty, Stop It! Chekwas Rebukes Soludo
-
News4 days agoTension in Anambra community as senior police officer shoots kinsman dead
Colleagues, others try cover-up; victim's family fights back
-
News7 days agoAnambra South Bye-Election: APC Chief Rescues Deputy Gov Caught In Vote Buying From Angry Youths
By Chuks Collins, Awka
-
Celebrity/Entertainment24 hours agoHow Nigerian TikToker Geh Geh Made ₦45 Million in One Night
-
News5 days agoNigerian visa applicants must provide 5-yr social media history — US embassy
-
Analysis6 days agoSystemic Sabotage: How APC, INEC Colluded To Undermine Amamgbo’s Senatorial Bid
By Arthur Ezechukwu
-
News3 days agoTerrorist Organisation: APC, PDP Members in US, UK, France Risk Deportation
-
Celebrity/Entertainment5 days agoWhy single mothers can’t raise boys into proper men — Jim Iyke
-
News7 days agoBREAKING: Troops arrest Nigeria’s most wanted terror kingpin
-
News2 days agoVandal electrocuted while vandalizing Aba power infrastructure