PDP Restates Call for Arrest of Sheriff, Others

By Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has renewed its call on the Inspector General of Police to immediately effect the arrest and prosecution of the former National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen and others collaborators for contempt of court.

It was reacting to Friday’s ruling of the FCT High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, which struck out the motion filed by Sheriff  praying that it set aside the judgment that nullified the process that produced him as National Chairman.

“The party welcomed the development and reinstated
the call by the PDP to the Inspector General of Police to
immediately effect the arrest and prosecution of the former National
Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, and
their co-travellers for contempt of court,” it said.

In a statement issued by a member of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the party said that it welcomes the court ruling, adding that it is in consonance with the earlier judgement  of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on the 4th of July, which ruled that the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker committee  as the only authentic and legal Working Committee of the Party.

“In his Judgment delivered on Friday July 8, 2016, Justice Valentine Ashi
of the FCT High Court struck-out the Motion for lack of merit and abuse
of Court Processes.

“For the record, the same Judge, Justice Valentine Ashi on Tuesday, June
28, 2016 delivered a Judgment nullifying the Amendment of Article 47 (6)
of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2014 which
Senator Sheriff claimed to have taken effect at the Special National
Convention in December of the same year that produced Ali Modu Sheriff’s
predecessor, Amadu Adamu Muazu; thereby nullifying the
appointment of Senator Sheriff by the 68th National Executive Committee
Meeting of the PDP.

“While delivering the Judgment, Justice Valentine Ashi urged politicians
to learn to accept defeat and not to attempt to use the Court to achieve
goals they failed to score in the political field. Let the public also
recall that another Judge last week described Senator Sheriff and Co as
“busy bodies”.