Appeal Court sacks, slams N10m fine on Abure for abuse of court process

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has dismissed the appeal filed by Barrister Julius Abure challenging his removal as National Chairman of the Labour Party, reaffirming Senator Nenadi Usman as the party’s legitimate leader.

In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel, the court upheld the Federal High Court’s decision directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Usman as National Chairman “to the exclusion of all others.”

The lead judgment, read by Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi, with Justices A. B. Mohammed and Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom Wike concurring, held that the Supreme Court had “conclusively settled” the LP leadership dispute on April 4, 2025, when it nullified the convention that returned Abure as chairman.

*Truth be told*, Abure had approached the Appeal Court in suit No. CA/ABJ/CV/255/2026 — _Barr. Julius Abure & Anor v. Sen. Nenadi Esther Usman & 3 Ors_ — seeking to overturn Justice Peter Lifu’s Federal High Court judgment that earlier sacked him.

The appellate court agreed that the lower court had powers under Section 251 of the Constitution to compel INEC to perform its statutory duties. It also affirmed that the constitution of the Caretaker Committee headed by Usman was a “doctrine of necessity” to provide leadership when there appeared to be a vacuum.

*Court Slams Abure Over Forum Shopping*

The Justices strongly criticised Abure for “abuse of court process” and “forum shopping” at a Nasarawa State High Court on a matter already decided by the Supreme Court.

The court said Abure persisted in laying claim to the party’s leadership “despite the clear and unambiguous pronouncement of the apex court.”

It held that the appeal was “devoid of merit” and constituted an abuse of court process.

Consequently, the court dismissed Abure’s appeal and imposed a N10 million cost against him for “wasting judicial time on a matter that had already been conclusively determined.”