Court Reinstates Agada-led APC In Benue

A High Court in Makurdi headed by Justice T A Kume yesterday nullified the seven -man caretaker committee of the Benue State All Progressives Congress (APC).

The development followed a suit initiated by the former state chairman of the APC, Comrade Austin Agada, challenging the dissolution of the State Working Committee, (SWC) of the party by the National Working Committee (NWC).

Justice T. A. Kume in his ruling held that the dissolution of the EXCO was not in accordance with the Constitution of the party, noting that the action of the NWC equally amounted to gross violation of the applicants’ right to fair hearing.

According to him, “even in the Garden of Eden, God demonstrated the importance of fairness to Adam and Eve by giving them an opportunity to express themselves when they sinned against God.”

He said the NWC denied Agada a fair hearing.

The court held that all actions carried out by the caretaker committee appointed by the national secretariat of APC to act in place of the Austin Agada-led State Working Committee amounted to nullity.

The plaintiffs in the suit include Agada and eight others while the APC and Benjamin Omale were first and second respondents respectively.

The sacked chairman of the Benue State APC Caretaker Committee, Benjamin Omale has expressed dissatisfaction with the Court judgement, saying that the verdict would be appealed.

In August this year, the NWC of APC dissolved the SWC and inaugurated a caretaker committee headed by Benjamin Omale.