The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has categorically dismissed a recent ruling from the Federal High Court in Abia, which purportedly mandates the takeover of its administration by Dr. Boniface Aniebonam. The party has labeled the judgement as fraudulent, asserting that it lacks legal validity and is therefore null and void.
The contentious ruling was issued by Hon. Justice C.U. Okoroafor of the Uzuakoli Division, ordering an immediate transfer of control of the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT) to a group chaired by Aniebonam. However, in an official statement released in Abuja, NNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, emphasized that the constitution referenced in the judgement had been amended as of April 6, 2024. He further highlighted that the individuals claiming to be BOT members had been expelled from the party, a decision previously upheld by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Johnson pointed out that the Abia court’s jurisdiction was improperly invoked, as no legal documents related to the suit were served at the NNPP’s registered office. He stated, “None of the authentic National Working Committee officers, whose names and addresses are registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), were notified of the proceedings leading to this judgement.”
He clarified that the NNPP’s registered office, as mandated by Section 222 of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022, is located at No. 11 Mahatma Gandhi Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja.
The party reiterated that a prior ruling from the Federal High Court in Abuja had declared the aforementioned BOT members as expelled, rendering them ineligible as authentic representatives. Johnson noted that the Abuja court had also affirmed that the NNPP’s Board of Trustees serves solely as an advisory body without executive powers, a judgement that remains intact and has not been overturned.
Concluding the statement, Johnson condemned the Abia judgement as a “spurious ruling” that was reached without proper legal foundation, declaring that it contradicts existing judicial decisions from the Federal High Court in Abuja. He asserted that the judgement lacks any legitimate basis and is essentially a fraudulent attempt to undermine the party’s governance.
