Justice M.A. Hassan of the Federal Excessive Court docket, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Division, has issued an interim injunction restraining the Boniface Aneibonam-led faction of the New Nigerian Peoples Occasion (NNPP) from conducting native, state, and zonal congresses, in addition to state conventions, underneath the social gathering’s title.The ruling adopted an ex parte movement filed by the NNPP, led by Nationwide Chairman Dr. Ajuji Ahmed, alongside 19 members of the social gathering’s Nationwide Working Committee, towards Aneibonam, 19 others, and the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC).
In swimsuit quantity FCT/HC/CV/5518/2024, Justice Hassan directed Aneibonam and his associates to chorus from finishing up any official actions or presenting themselves as representatives of the NNPP. The injunction will stay in place pending the willpower of a movement on discover for interlocutory reduction.
The court docket additionally restrained INEC from recognizing or responding to any correspondence from the defendants or from monitoring or supervising their actions underneath the NNPP’s title. INEC has been ordered to stop engagement with the faction in any official capability.
The case has been adjourned to January 27, 2025, for a listening to on the movement.
Reacting to the court docket’s choice, the NNPP Nationwide Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, expressed satisfaction, describing the ruling as a big step in affirming the social gathering’s rightful management.
In an announcement, Johnson accused Aneibonam and his associates of appearing as instruments for opposition events. “Dr. Aneibonam and his co-travelers have been expelled by the social gathering, and since then, they’ve been making an attempt to confuse the general public concerning the rightful management, emblem, and colours of the NNPP,” he stated.
Johnson additional famous that the court docket’s order successfully bars the defendants and their brokers from participating in any exercise underneath the NNPP’s title. “Equally, the court docket restrained INEC from receiving or responding to any correspondence from them or monitoring their unlawful congresses,” he added.
He reiterated that the social gathering stays centered regardless of the distractions. “We hope they are going to seem in court docket to make sure their illegal use of the social gathering’s title is completely halted,” Johnson concluded.
