The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu; Mr. Oyetunde Ojo, an in-law to the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, a former governorship aspirant of the party, Dr. Wole Oluyede and eight others, have said that they won’t honour the summon of the party’s disciplinary committee set up to probe them.
Other aggrieved leaders include Ayo Ajibade, Mr. Femi Adeleye, Bunmi Ogunleye, Akin Akomolafe, Bamigboye Adegoroye, Olusoga Owoeye, Dele Afolabi, Toyin Oluwasola and Ben Oguntuase.
The Ekiti State chapter of the party had last week, citing directives from national headquarters, set up an eight-man disciplinary committee against the party leaders over their failure to withdraw the suit instituted at the Federal High Court against the State Working Committee.
The aggrieved party leaders said that the decision of the party to commence disciplinary measures against them and subsequent invitation was a clear violation of their fundamental human rights to seek redress in court when aggrieved with any process.
They also said that there was no directive from the National Caretaker Committee to the state chapter of the APC to set up disciplinary committee against them.
In a letter addressed to the chairman of the disciplinary committee by their counsel, Chief Ademuyiwa Adeniyi, the aggrieved leaders said that they would not be attending the committee’s invitation, “as it is subjudice in law with consequences.”
Adeniyi added that the leaders would not be getting fair hearing considering comments from members of the committee and leaders of the party.
“The information at the disposal of our clients is contrary to your claim that the National Caretaker Committee of the APC directed the Ekiti State chapter to set up disciplinary committee to try members that are exercising their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and their party’s constitution.
“The composition of your committee is against the principles of Nemo Judex in causa Sual. That is, no one is a judge in his own cause. This is one of the cardinal rules of natural justice that no person can judge a case in which they have an interest,” the letter read in part.
Adeniyi said that the aggrieved leaders had explored all internal mechanism within the party in resolving issues before going to court, adding that they are determined for the progress and unity of the APC and ready for genuine reconciliation towards putting an end to the crisis in the party.
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