The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the November 14 judgment by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court restraining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from proceeding with the November 15 and 16 national convention in Ibadan without affording former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido the opportunity to party as a chairmanships candidate.
A three-member panel of the court was unanimous in its judgment held that the convention held by the PDP in Ibadan on November 15 and 16 in defiance of a valid subsisting order of the Federal High Court in Abuja was contemptuous and a disrespect to the court.
The court noted that it was not in dispute that the appellant (the PDP) proceeded to conduct the convention despite a subsisting order directing it to provide an opportunity for Lamido to participate.
The court faulted the argument by the PDP that it went ahead with the convention in obedience of a judgment of another court of coordinate jurisdiction.
It held that it is not for any party in a case to decide on which order to obey or ignore.
The court further held that what the PDP ought to have done was to have applied for a stay of execution of the judgment or order or better still, lodge an appeal against the judgement.
The court condemned the appellant’s contemptuous conduct and held that the trial court was right to have assumed jurisdiction over Lamido’s case and granted the reliefs he sought.
The court also awarded a cost of N2million against the PDP.
