The Court of Appeal in Makurdi recently heard an appeal filed by Hon. Moses Agaba, who is contesting a ruling that set aside a previous court order restraining Comrade Austin Agada from acting as the Benue State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Agaba’s legal counsel, Matthew Burkaa, SAN, argued that the Chief Judge of Benue State’s High Court, Justice M. A. Ikpambese, overstepped by retrieving the case from another judge and canceling the initial restraining order. Burkaa argued that this action amounted to the Chief Judge reviewing a decision from a judge of the same jurisdiction, which is not customary.

In defense, Agada’s lawyer, Yakubu Philemon, SAN, countered that the interim order in question expired on February 12, 2024, and had not been renewed, justifying the Chief Judge’s decision to dismiss it.

Additionally, the Court of Appeal considered another appeal concerning a ruling from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Makurdi. This case involved 23 former Local Government Chairmen in Benue, who contested their removal. Counsel to the appellants, S. A. Akpehe, argued that the NICN did not have jurisdiction, as the dispute was unrelated to industrial matters.

After hearing the arguments from both cases, the Court of Appeal reserved its judgment, with a decision to be announced at a later date.