APGA: Lawyers fight over who should represent party

AWKA — THERE was a stormy session at the Federal High Court, Awka, Monday, as counsels to the two factions of the crisis-ridden All Progressives Grand Party, APGA, spent time during the sitting arguing about who should represent the party.

The court, presided over by Justice M.T Salihu, had on  April 15 granted an interim order of restriction against Okwu and other officers elected with him.

At the resumed hearing of the case, yesterday, there was a near pandemonium as two leading counsels, Mr. Kingsley Awuka and Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN fought tirelessly on which of them should represent APGA, which is the 4th respondent  in the judicial review application brought by Nwazojie.

As soon as Ikpeazu informed the court that he was representing APGA, based on the mandate he got from Maxi Okwu, the national chairman of the party, Awuka raised an objection, saying he was the person properly briefed by Chief Victor Umeh to represent APGA in the case.

Both lawyers cited various authorities in law to support their positions.
Ikpeazu, who spoke first, argued that he was properly brought into the case, having been duly authorized by Chief Maxi Okwu and, therefore, should represent APGA.