From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Abuja division of the Court of Appeal on Friday resolved the protracted national chairmanship tussle in the Action Alliance (AA) in favour of Kenneth Udeze. In a unanimous judgment, a three-member panel of the appellate court affirmed Kenneth Udeze as the authentic national chairman of Action Alliance (AA). Justice H.A. Barka, who delivered the lead judgment of the court, dismissed the appeal filed by one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje in Appeal number: CA/ABJ/CV/955/2022, challenging the judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in suit number: FCT/HC/CV/174/2022.
The judgment of the High Court, which was delivered on March 28, 2022, by Justice Eleojo Enenche affirmed Udeze as the authentic national chairman of Action Alliance and validated the March 14 2021 National Convention of the party.
In dismissing the appeal for lacking in merit, the Court of Appeal further awarded the cost of N4 million against Adekunle Rufai Omoaje in favour of Udeze and the other three respondents. Justice Barke held, “I am of the view that the appellant has not placed any reasonable material before this court to warrant this court to interfere with the judgment of the lower court “This appeal lacks merit and is deservedly dismissed with a cost of N1m each in favour of the respondents, “ Justice Barka held.
But, in a swift reaction, Omoaje who was present in court has vowed to challenge the judgment at the Supreme Court.