Amid the brewing leadership crisis in the Labour Party, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero has thrown his weight behind Julius Abure, saying he remains the National Chairman of the party.
Ajaero in a statement he personally signed said the union will storm the court in the next court sitting concerning the case.
“On the next adjourned date we are going to be in court in our numbers to listen to the Judge.”
Ajaero said NLC was alarmed by the ruling of Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja via ex-parte to suspend from office the National Chairman, the National Secretary, National Treasurer and the Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Messrs Julius Abure, Alhaji Farouk Ibrahim, Clement Ojukwu and Opara respectively on unfounded/unproven and highly speculative and malicious allegations of corruption, perjury and forgery by elements whose interest in the party could best be described as doubtful or dubious.
According to him, the court order by Justice Hamza Muazu was to subsist, “pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction”.
“We view the decapitation of the leadership of the party with great suspicion which cannot be far from the intent to weaken the party from within or distract it from its fight to reclaim its victories at the polls.
“In light of this, we urge the courts to exercise utmost caution in entertaining frivolous suits and spurious prayers from mercenary party members as they are capable of compromising the integrity of the courts.”
Ajaero moreover said, “We similarly join the league of those who canvass against the casual use of ex-parte in light of the grievousness of the injuries they quite often inflict.
“We also note that this extant court order does not only violate the principle of presumption of innocence, a cardinal pillar of our judicial system, it is an affront to justice itself. We find it curious that while ex-convicts continue to occupy ample space in the public service or space without let or hindrance, those yet to be found guilty are already being harangued or hounded are being debarred from holding office.”
Credit: Leadership
