The Federal High Court sitting in Lafia has reserved ruling on an exparte motion seeking to restrain Dr. Aliyu Bello from parading himself as a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Nasarawa State.
This followed an ex-parte motion filed by Ibrahim Iliyasu, Chairman of APC in Gayam Ward, Lafia Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, seeking to also get an interpretation of the APC’s constitution as it relates to the powers of the party’s ward officials to suspend any member.
The Voice recalled that the Gayam Ward Chairman, Ibrahim Iliyasu alongside 13 officials, on Tuesday, July 3, in a Press Conference, suspended the State Chairman for alleged anti-party activities.
Speaking in an interview with journalists in Lafia immediately after the court hearing today, July 22, 2025, Barr Isa Nalaraba, the lawyer representing the applicant, Ibrahim Iliyasu, said the court adjourned the case to 25th September 2025.
Barr. Nalaraba said the case stems from Dr. Bello’s suspension by the Gayam Ward executive members, who are also arguing that he should be disqualified from holding any party position in the State.
He said, “The court in its wisdom has decided that it will be more appropriate if the originating summons is heard because the prayers in the motion on notice are similar, even though differently couched, than the prayers in the originating summons.
“The second respondent, Dr. Aliyu Bello, has already been suspended from the party. So if the status quo is to be maintained, it means he is no longer a member of APC pending the determination of the case.”
“Although the court declined to grant the ex-parte order restraining Dr. Bello from parading himself as a member of the APC, it did issue an order cautioning parties not to do anything that will be detrimental to the case. Any attempt to expel anybody from the party will be detrimental to the case and will be against the order of the court.”
On his part, counsel to Dr. Aliyu Bello, Barr Thomas Oboshi, said the court had declined to grant an ex-parte order restraining Dr. Bello from taking certain actions, instead opting to hear the matter on its merit.
“The Judge advised that she will hear the matter on the merit so as not to hear the matter on interlocutory injunction which is a duplication of prayers contained in the main substantive suit,” Barr. Oboshi said.
He said that the court’s decision means that both Dr. Bello and the ward chairman can continue in their roles pending the outcome of the case.
“The court did not make any statement to either restrain Aliyu Bello or the Chairman of the ward to stop parading themselves. They both remain the chairman of APC as far as the position of the matter is today,” he added.
He therefore said that the case will proceed to be heard on its merit, with the court considering the arguments and evidence presented by both parties.
Earlier, the Presiding Judge, Justice Mobolaji Olubukola Olajuwon adjourned to 25 September 2025 for hearing on the matter.
The judge also directed all parties involved in the matter to desist from taking further actions until the case is decided.
