See copies of Oshiomhole’s letters to the Chief Judge of Rivers State on suit challenging Rivers APC caretaker committee

AsphericNews has obtained a copy of a letter from the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole to the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Honourable Justice A.I. Iyayi-Lamikanra, requesting THE TRANSFER OF a court case filed by one Igo Aguma (Suit No. OHC/4355/2019) against the APC. The suit is challenging the constitution of the Rivers State APC Caretaker Committee.

Adams Oshiomhole in the letter alleged possible bias and interference and asked that the case be transferred from Hon. Justice Augusta U. Kingsley-Chukwu to another judge for determination. According to the National Chairman of the APC, Hon. Justice Augusta U. Kingsley-Chukwu is married to the Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State.

In the letter, Oshiomhole said “Before the court rendered its decision striking out Suit No. PHC/3098/2019, one IgoAguma filed a similar suit (Suit No. OHC/4355/2019) against the APC challenging the composition of the Caretaker Committee. “The action was commenced by Originating Summons on 16th December, 2019, assigned to Hon. Justice Augusta U. Kingsley- Chukwu, and applications seeking interlocutory and interim injunctions were filed alongside the originating process. “By the civil procedure rules of the Rivers State High Court, the APC was entitled to 21 days within which to enter an appearance and file their necessary processes in defence. “Curiously, it was brought to our attention that Hon. Justice Augusta U. Kingsley-Chukwu had abridged that time to 48 hours. Our curiosity was further heightened when we discovered that the husband of Hon. Justice Augusta U. Kingsley-Chukwu is a top leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who had prevlously contested for the position of Chairman ofobio/Akpor Local Government Area and currently serves as the Legal Adviser of the PDP in Rivers State. “Expectedly, the APC had reasonable apprehension that Hon. Justice Augusta U. Kingsley-Chukwu may not be able to discharge her duties as a judicial officer objectively without interference.”

In expressing his lack of Confidence on Justice Augusta U. Kingsley-Chukwu, Adams Oshiomhole said “reason of the above facts, we have lost all confidence in the ability of Hon. Justice Augusta U. Kingsley-Chukwu to impartially and objectively determine Suit No. OHC/4355/2019 without any interference. “Since justice is rooted in confidence, it is indeed our duty to bring the loss of such confidence to your Lordship’s attention so that our belief in the judicial process will be restored. “In the circumstances, we hereby apply for a Reassignment of Suit No. OHC/4355/20l9 from Honourable Justice Augusta U. Kingsley-Chukwu to another Judge for expeditious determination.”