The Supreme Court has warned members of the political to stop saddling the country’s courts with unnecessary and fruitless cases.
The Apex Court gave the warning while ruling on the matter brought before it by Igo Aguma who challenged the APC to a duel after it picked Isaac Ogbobula as the Chairman of its Caretaker Committee in Rivers State.
Delivering the lead judgment, Amina Adamu Augie,.JSC, who presided and read the lead judgments said the courts would no longer tolerate the penchant by politicians to rush to court with frivolous matters.
The erudite Justice after x-raying the appeal filed by Igo Aguma as well as the case instituted by Umar and 22 others held that the cases raised by the litigants lacked merit.
The Supreme Court said the matters relating to the internal crisis which had rocked the APC were froth with jurisdictional issues.
On the matter brought by Umar and 22 others which forged the foundation for the disqualification of the APC in the 2019 elections, the Court said the foundation laid by Judge Chinwendu of the Port Harcourt High Court was greatly faulty.
The Court similarly ruled that the excursion embarked upon by Justice Omereji who hoisted Igo Aguma on the APC lacked in merit.
It therefore came to the conclusion that the matters before it were merely academic and accordingly threw them out.
Meanwhile, reactions are trailing the decision taken by the Supreme Court.
Former gubernatorial candidate of the APC and one – time Director General of NIMASA hailed both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal for the principled positions that they took.
He described the decision of the Apex Court as a “victory for democracy and progressive governance”
“While I am yet to get the full details of the judgments, my initial reaction is to say that the courts have once again risen to the occasion and deepened democracy and democratic tenets. This is a victory for all Rivers people, especially APC members and it is a sign of greater things to come.
“Now the Rivers State chapter of the APC can strengthen its gains even further as we unite to provide Rivers people with authentic, strong, and focused leadership. We are deeply grateful to God Almighty and congratulate our leader, the Hon Minister for Transportation, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for this hard won victory.”
Earlier, the Spokesman of the APC in Rivers State, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke hailed the judgment of the Supreme Court, saying that the ruling was just and upright.
“The Supreme Court has finally ended all arguments relating to who the authentic Chairman of the Rivers Caretaker Committee is”, the Spokesman of the APC, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, Spokesman of the APC noted in his reaction.
“It is now clear that Rt. Hon. Igo Aguma was a meddlesome tombo fly who had no right, under whatever guise, to challenge the right of the party to choose leaders of its Caretaker Committee.
“Based on the ruling, Isaac Ogbobula is the authentic Chairman. Now that the obstacles placed on the way of the Rivers APC have been removed, we want to thank the justices of the Supreme Court for their wisdom and upright decision.”
Meanwhile, Igo Aguma has thrown in the towel, stating that he is done with his sojourn in the APC.
He expressed strong reservation over the decision of the Apex Court, saying it was clear that the rights of aggrieved persons in the party cannot be protected by the courts.
Latest information reaching our news desk suggest that Livingstone Wechie, media aide to Igo Aguma has exited from the party as well.
The action of the two men indicate that many more who belong to the Abe group might be on their way out.
Analysts think that the steps taken by members of the splinter group are intended to divert attention from the monumental victory won by the APC.
Said Nwuke, “The speed with which they indicated their intention to leave the party shows that a script itemising steps to take have been written long ago.”
“We are waiting to see how this plays out. We knew truth would prevail someday over lies. That day has come and we thank God for clearing the path and creating a new way forward.”