Our Verdict On PDP Convention Remains Valid, Court Maintains
A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has affirmed that the July 4, 2016 ruling of Justice M. Liman on the resolution of the National Convention that ousted the former acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic People, Ali Modu Sheriff, remains authentic.
Justice Ibrahim Watila maintained that since the July 4 judgement had not been set aside by a higher court of competent jurisdiction, its judgement holds true. These he said while delivering a judgment on Suit Number FHC/PH /CS /585/2016, filed by Senator Ben Obi for himself and other members of the National Planning Committee of the PDP, against the Inspector-General of Police, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, the Department of State Services and the Independent National Electoral Commission,
Watila categorically stated that the 1st, 3rd and 5th defendants in the matter; Inspector General of Police, Department of State Services and the Independent National Electoral Commission were also bound by the July ruling.
Senator Ben Obi had asked the court to rule on whether the July 4, 2016 judgement was binding on the 1st, 3rd and 5th defendants in the matter explaining that the court was always jealous of its ruling until it was set aside by a higher court, insisting that, “Every authority expected to carry out a court judgement should not assist in flouting such court orders.”
“This court will not shy away from protecting the sanctity of its judgment. The court has held that the appointment of the PDP National Caretaker Committee is valid,” he concluded.
