JUST IN:Appeal Court Affirms Abure As LP Chairman

… Fines Apapa N1m

The Abuja Court of Appeal has upheld Julius Abure’s position as the Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).

This decision overturns the ruling of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, which had previously barred Abure and two others from acting as national officers of the party. Justice Hamma Barka, delivering the judgment, declared that the high court had overstepped its jurisdiction.

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Furthermore, the Appellate Court ordered a payment of One million Naira in damages to Abure, ruling in his favor against Lamidi Apapa, the respondent. Last year, Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT High Court had issued an ex-parte order, restraining Abure and his associates from assuming leadership roles within the party over allegations of document forgery. However, this ruling was overturned by the Appellate Court, which found merit in Abure’s appeal.

The legal battle between Abure and Apapa intensified following the 2023 presidential elections, where LP’s Peter Obi secured the third position. On March 21, 2024, Abure faced another setback when he was arrested in Benin City, Edo State. Viral videos captured the LP chairman being apprehended by police officers, amidst resistance from LP supporters. The police cited charges of attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms, and related offenses for Abure’s arrest. Subsequently, following protests from LP members, Abure was released on bail the following day.