Federal High Court Orders Senator Anyanwu To Produce Supreme Court Judgment

High Court Directs Senator Samuel Anyanwu to Submit Supreme Court Ruling Within Seven Days

Hey there, let’s dive into this story. The Federal High Court in Abuja has handed down an order to Senator Samuel Anyanwu, requiring him to submit the Supreme Court's judgment that he claims reinstated him as the National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The court has set a strict deadline of seven days for this submission. This order comes as part of ongoing legal battles surrounding the leadership of the PDP's national secretariat.

According to reports from Naija News, Justice Inyang Ekwo issued this directive after Chief Ken Njamanze, SAN, the lead counsel representing Senator Anyanwu, brought attention to the apex court's decision. Njamanze argued that this ruling resolved the legal disputes regarding the position of the PDP’s national secretary. It’s a significant move that could impact the outcome of the ongoing legal tussle.

Background of the Legal Battle

This order came on a day when the Federal High Court was hearing a case filed by Senator Anyanwu. The case seeks to halt the enforcement of concurrent rulings that had effectively removed him from office and recognized Rt. Hon. Udeh-Okoye Ememchukwu as the legitimate National Secretary of the party. Let’s break this down a bit more.

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It’s important to note that the Court of Appeal in Enugu, in a ruling delivered last December, upheld a previous High Court decision that dismissed Senator Anyanwu. The court acknowledged Rt. Hon. Udeh-Okoye as the party’s rightful national secretary. The court's rationale was that Anyanwu's continued tenure violated the PDP’s Constitution. This violation stemmed from his decision to contest and win the party’s candidacy in the governorship election in Imo State the previous year.

Following these rulings, both the Board of Trustees (BOT) and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP threw their support behind Chief Udeh-Okoye. Naturally, this did not sit well with Senator Anyanwu, who subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court. He also filed a motion in the high court to suspend the enforcement of the judgments against him. It’s been a legal battle with twists and turns at every corner.

Supreme Court’s Ruling

Last Friday, in a unanimous decision, a five-member panel of Justices at the Supreme Court overturned the decisions made by the two lower courts. The reason? Lack of jurisdiction. The apex court ruled that the matter at hand pertained to the internal affairs of a political party, an area where it stated no court has the authority to intervene. This ruling set off a wave of reactions, with both sides claiming victory in their own right.

Now, let’s get into the details. In an affidavit submitted by Rt. Hon. Udeh-Okoye, identified as the 4th defendant, he informed the court that although Senator Anyanwu was elected during the National Convention held on October 30, 2021, for a four-year term, he forfeited that position after being nominated as the party’s candidate for the 2023 gubernatorial election in Imo State. Article 47(5) of the PDP Constitution requires any officer elected to the party’s Executive Committee at any level to resign before contesting for any elective position. Moreover, Article 47(6) allows for the appointment of an individual from the same area or zone to complete the term of the departing officer.

PDP’s Response and Legal Proceedings

Rt. Hon. Udeh-Okoye explained that due to Senator Anyanwu’s refusal to vacate his position, the PDP Board of Trustees, in a letter dated October 12, 2023, alerted the National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Damagun, regarding this constitutional violation. The matter was escalated, and the South East zone Executives of the party convened a meeting in Enugu on October 16, 2022. During this meeting, Rt. Hon. Udeh-Okoye was nominated to fulfill the remainder of Senator Anyanwu’s term.

Rt. Hon. Udeh-Okoye further asserted that the legal proceedings resulting in the concurrent judgments from the courts in Enugu stemmed directly from the aforementioned meeting where he was nominated. Based on this, he requested the court to dismiss Senator Anyanwu’s lawsuit. The legal battle continues to unfold, with each side presenting their arguments.

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Next Steps

After all parties presented their arguments on Tuesday, Justice Ekwo scheduled the matter for judgment on April 28. This decision will be closely watched by all stakeholders involved, as it could have far-reaching implications for the leadership structure of the PDP. The outcome will undoubtedly shape the future direction of the party’s national secretariat.