APGA PRESS RELEASE The attention of the National Leadership of our great party has been drawn to a mischievous drivel tagged “PRESS RELEASE” attributed to Chief Chekwas Okorie titled: PROF. MAHMOOD YAKUBU IS A CONTEMNOR AND MUST RESIGN AS CHAIRMAN OF INEC.

 APGA PRESS RELEASE

The attention of the National Leadership of our great party has been drawn to a mischievous drivel tagged “PRESS RELEASE” attributed to Chief Chekwas Okorie titled: PROF. MAHMOOD YAKUBU IS A CONTEMNOR AND MUST RESIGN AS CHAIRMAN OF INEC.

In the sham Press Release, Chief Okorie described himself as the “Founder and Pioneer National Chairman of APGA.” While it is true that Chief Okorie became the pioneer National Chairman of APGA in 2002 upon the registration of the Party, it is common knowledge that he was suspended by the NWC of APGA in December 2004. In January 2005, the NEC of APGA subsequently expelled him from the Party. Chief Okorie challenged his expulsion from APGA all the way from the FCT High Court to the Supreme Court of Nigeria. On March 21, 2011 his expulsion from APGA received the judicial imprimatur of the Supreme Court when the Apex Court dismissed his appeal. The Judgment of the Supreme Court that sealed the fate of Chief Chekwas Okorie in APGA is reported as *APGA v. UMEH (2011) 8 NWLR (pt. 1250) 544.* Since March 2011, Chief Okorie became an IDP (internally displaced politician), wandering from one defunct party to another: UPP, CPC etc. 

Chief Chekwas Okorie distorted facts by giving the false impression that the INEC Chairman and Chief Victor Ike Oye are in contempt of the ill-fated Ruling of the FCT High Court Bwari delivered on May 10, 2023. Speaking from both sides of the mouth, Chief Okorie claimed that “Neither Professor Mahmood Yakubu nor INEC has appealed against the judgment that found him guilty of contempt of court orders, but curiously, Chief Victor Oye, on the 28th of November 2023 managed to secure an order of the Court of Appeal restraining the FCT High Court from proceeding with the sentencing of the contemnors which was to take place next day on the 29th of November 2023.” 

In other words, in one breath, he claimed there was no appeal against the Ruling of the FCT High Court Bwari. Yet, in another breath, he acknowledged that the Court of Appeal has restrained the FCT High Court from proceeding with the purported contempt proceedings. Pray, how else will the Court of Appeal intervene to stop the FCT High Court if there is no pending appeal before the Court of Appeal? 

According to British journalist and publisher C.P. Scott, facts are sacred but comment is free. While Chief Okorie is entitled to his opinion and comments, he must not distort sacred facts to score cheap political points. 

It is now in public domain that the Ruling of the FCT High Court Bwari delivered on May 10, 2023 and the subsequent Contempt Ruling of November 9, 2023 are the subject matter of 2 pending appeals at the Court of Appeal. To wit: APPEAL NOS. CA/ABJ/CV/724/2023 and CA/ABJ/CV/11/69/2023. 

In recognition of the pendency of APPEAL NO. CA/ABJ/CV/724/2023, the FCT High Court Bwari on November 9, 2023 adjourned sine die the purported Contempt Proceedings against the Honourable Chairman of INEC. Realizing that he may not have jurisdiction, ab initio, the trial Judge Madugu J. ruled as follows: “On the whole, motion on notice for committal to correctional center in respect of the Applicant/Respondent, Professor Mahmood Yakoob (sic) Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission in Motion number M/11847/2023 must be adjourned sine die pending the outcome of the decision of the Court of Appeal in appeal number CA/ABJ/CV/724/2023.”

For the avoidance of doubt, on November 28, 2023 the Court of Appeal directed Madugu J. of the FCT High Court to wash his hands off the pending Contempt Proceedings against the INEC Chairman and Chief Oye in order not to indulge in judicial impertinence. Apart from staying the purported Contempt Proceedings, the Court of Appeal also made an ORDER OF INJUNCTION PENDING APPEAL restraining the giving effect to, or otherwise seeking the enforcement of the Interim Orders purportedly made by Madugu J. of the FCT High Court in his Ruling of May 10, 2023 and his Judgment of June 6, 2023. 

Finally, on December 14, 2023 Madugu J. of the FCT High Court fully yielded to the superior authority of the Court of Appeal by dropping his pen and washing his hands off the purported Contempt Proceedings against the Honourable Chairman of INEC and Chief Victor Ike Oye.

It is therefore utterly preposterous for Chief Chekwas Okorie to label the Honourable Chairman of INEC a contemnor and pontificate that “a contemnor is allowed to remain as the Chairman of INEC that superintends the elections and democratic process in Nigeria.”

If anyone is a contemnor at the moment, it is Chief Chekwas Okorie. How? Very simple: the Court of Appeal decision of November 28, 2023 granting Stay of Proceedings/Injunction Pending Appeal and the Ruling of Madugu J. of the FCT High Court on December 14, 2023 dropping his pen; are the most recent decisions of Court on this contempt subject matter. 

As a red-capped chief in Igbo land, Chief Okorie is admonished to refrain from further pedestrian mischief-making and abide by the recent decisions of the Court of Appeal and the FCT High Court, Bwari.  

Signed

Mazi Ejimofor Opara, KSM

National Publicity Secretary, APGA