Baraje-Led PDP Suit Against Tukur, Others Suffers Setback

The suit filed by Alhaji Kawu Baraje’s faction of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to stop Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and other members of his Executive Council from parading themselves as national officers of the party, has suffered a setback at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, with the vacation Judge; Justice Ganiyu Safari signalling his withdrawal from the case.

It would be recalled that Justice Safari, has been handling the matter as vacation judge, while the Lagos Judiciary was on its long vacation that lasted two months.

Although all the parties were present in court today, the suit failed to proceed as scheduled, in view of the fact that the case file had been returned to the office of the Chief Judge by Justice Safari.

Already, the Chief Judge of Lagos state, Justice Ayotunde Phillips has re-assigned the suit to a new judge, Justice Oludotun Adefowope-Okojie.

At the last hearing of the suit, the judge had fixed Tuesday for the hearing of the defendant’s application in which they questioned the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit.

It will also be recalled that Alhaji Baraje-led faction of the PDP had failed in their bid to get the court to order the police to re-open their Abuja national secretariat that was sealed up.


Mr Robert Emukpaero, the counsel to Alhaji Kawu Baraje’s faction of the PDP, had made an oral application in which he prayed the court to order the reopening of the new PDP secretariat in Abuja closed down by the Police two Saturdays ago.

Emukpaeruo had also accused the defendants of allegedly violating the court’s previous order to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the suit.

He had then urged the court to order the police to remove their armoured personnel carrier vehicles from the secretariat and allow his clients access to their offices, but the defence counsel, Ajibola Oluyede in his response urged the court to dismiss the claimant’s claim as a “mere say” and that which cannot be relied upon by the court.

Oluyede argued that the claimant did not file any affidavit and documentary evidence to support his claims that his clients are behind the seal up of their secretariat.

Ruling on the matter, the trial judge had ordered the claimants to file a different application joining the Inspector General of Police (IGP) as defendant, according to him there was no evidence linking the defendants to the closure of the Baraje led PDP secretariat.

Alhaji Baraje and four others had dragged the by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur led PDP before the court asking it to restrain the embattled chairman and his co-defendants from parading themselves as PDP NEC members.

Other claimants in the suit are Dr Sam Jaja and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

Joined as defendants alongside the national chairman of the PDP; Tukur are the Deputy National Chairman, Mr Uche Secondus, PDP Women Leader, Dr Kema Chikwe and the National Publicity Secretary, Mr Olisa Metuh.
However, Justice Adefowope-Okojie fixed September 30 to commence hearing of the suit.