Umeh Is APGA Chairman -Court

A Federal High Court in Abuja recently upheld Chief Victor Umeh as the authentic National Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) following the removal of Chief Chekwas Okorie.
This was the ruling of Justice Adamu Bello in a suit filed by APGA and Umeh challenging the failure of INEC to recognise Umeh as the APGA national chairman.
INEC Chairman, Maurice Iwu had claimed that his recognition of Okorie as APGA national chairman was in line with an order of an Abuja High Court.
But Bello declared the recognition of Okorie null and void on the ground that it was based on a non-existent court order.
The judge said that the evidence before the court showed that following the removal of Okorie, Umeh was appointed National Chairman in 2006 after which he was duly elected into the office.
Bello said evidence before the court showed that Okorie was suspended and later removed as party chairman for alleged fraud and anti-party activities.
He said since the depositions of the plaintiffs were not challenged by the defendants, the court deemed them to be true.
``I have carefully studied the submissions of parties in the suit and I am of the view that the task of the court was to find out whether there was an existing court order or not.
``By not controverting the averment of the plaintiffs that there was no existing court order, the court therefore holds and believes same to be true.
``The evidence before the court have shown that a letter was, in 2006, signed by INEC recognizing Umeh as the chairman of the party and the IG of Police, EFCC, ICPC were copied.
“In my own view and the evidence before this court, I hold that this case was in line with the rule of the court.
``From the foregoing, the court holds that the suit has merit and the relief being sought are accordingly granted except the N10 million general damages," Bello said.
The judge, however, awarded N10,000 cost in favour of the plaintiffs.