APGA crisis: Okwu moves to take over National Secretariat

Following the ruling of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja last Monday that struck out the application brought by the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA) Chief Victor Umeh seeking to stay the judgement that sacked him from office, Barr. Maxi Okwo yesterday stormed the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja to resume work as the duly elected chairman of APGA.

Blueprint recalls that the same court had on January 15, this year, sacked Umeh from office and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to forthwith, recognise Chief Maxi Okwu as the chairman of the party.
The court presided by Justice Abdulkadir Abdul-Kafarati then ordered the National Secretary of the party, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) elected alongside Umeh at a convention held on February 18, 2011, in Awka Anambra state, to vacate their respective offices.
Okwu yesterday arrived the party secretariat in company of  two court bailiffs and several party faithful to effect court service on Chief Umeh and Alhaji Shinkafi.

He said: “I have come to take over the as the National Chairman of APGA having been declared as the authentic chairman of the party. We have two court bailiffs here with us to serve Victor Umeh and Alhaji Shinkafi the court process which is the first step in a proceeding for contempt of court. They have been evading service, so we have come to serve them here. The bailiffs are waiting, and as soon as Umeh and Shinkafi show up, they will be served. That is why we are here.”

He added: “We did write to the ex-while chairman that he should prepare proper handover note which must include an inventory and a statement of account duly audited by an auditor. We copied the Commissioner of Police and the Inspector General of Police. Then we wrote the landlord of the place to put him on notice.
“We are not fighting; we will prevail. We are law-abiding; we have been going through the court and have been winning. The judgment must be obeyed until set aside by a higher court of jurisdiction.”