Politics

Fresh crisis rocks APC as legal adviser accuses Oshiomhole of hijacking his office

The internal crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a new dimension as the National Legal Adviser of the party, Babatunde Ogala, has accused the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole of hijacking his office.
In an internal memo dated November 6 seen by The Cable and addressed to Oshiomhole, Ogala accused the National Chairman of denigrating the party’s legal department.
This is coming weeks after Oshiomhole fell out with some governors over the outcome of the party’s primary elections across the country.
The former Edo State governor was recently invited by the Department of State Services (DSS) based on allegations of bribery levelled against him.
While the chairman has denied the allegations, the opposition has taken advantage of it, calling on anti-graft agencies to probe Oshiomhole.
In the memo, Ogala said since he became the party’s legal adviser on June 25, his department has not been funded. He alleged that Oshiomhole had sidelined and refused to consult him over issues his office should handle.
“I am constrained to put this memo and complaint in writing in the light of the repeated acts of usurpation and deliberate encroachment on my office and attempt to undermine my person,” Ogala said.
“You will recall that you have previously done this in two previous matters wherein you had purportedly without recourse to me briefed the Law Firm of D. D. Dodo & Co. in Suit No: FCT/HC/CV/9265/2018. Ugwumba Uche Nwosu Vs. APC & 1 or and you also without recourse to us debriefed the law firm of Adeniyi Akintola, SAN, who had been briefed by the office of Legal Adviser.
“As if that was not enough, you procured a secretary in your office to depose an affidavit on behalf of the party wherein the deponent lied on oath that he had the authority of the party on depose to the said affidavit.
“The motion filed by the Law Firm of D. D. Dodo & Co. also told a lie that processes was served on the Legal Department in a certain suit No: FCT/HC/BW/CV/ 307/2018. Senator Hope Uzodinma vs APC & 2ors but that same was not brought to your notice.
“This was an assertion that was false in every material particular and an attempt to denigrate the legal department and my office as no such process was never served on the legal department.”
He said the chairman on an earlier occasion had apologised to him after he protested the encroachment into his office.
“When I became aware of this aberration and falsity, upon your raising same at the National Working Committee meeting, I vehemently protested same and took serious exception to the encroachment whilst vowing to resist same,” he wrote.
“I also quoted copiously from the party constitution which clearly defines the duties of the national legal adviser and that of the chairman.”
The latest crisis is coming three months to the general election and at a time the ruling party ought to be focused on the campaigns which kicked off on Sunday in line with the schedule of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In another development, the Cross River State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Matthew Achigbe, and his wife were said to be among those killed in an auto crash along Afikpo Road in Ebonyi State.
The identities of others said to have died alongside the couple were not immediately available.
Achigbe was said to be travelling to his hometown in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State for a meeting when the accident occurred.

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