The National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Abayomi Arabambi, has fired back at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over its demand for an investigation into the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, dismissing the move as politically motivated and a complete waste of time.
Arabambi, in a statement issued on Tuesday, March 25, insisted that the allegations of forgery, perjury, and criminal conspiracy against Abure and other party officials had already been laid to rest by multiple legal and forensic investigations, including a March 2023 ruling by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
NLC and Corruption Watch Renew Calls for Abure’s Prosecution
The latest controversy stems from a joint demand by the NLC Political Commission Chairman, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, and the Chairman of Nigerian Corruption Watch, Dandy Rowland, who are pushing for Abure’s prosecution despite prior legal rulings.
Adding to the tension, the Senator Nanedi Usman-led Labour Party Caretaker Committee also insisted that Abure and other national officers should face legal action, criticizing what they termed as an unjustifiable delay in prosecution.
Arabambi: Allegations Have No Legal Basis
Reacting swiftly, Arabambi dismissed the calls as a desperate smear campaign, reiterating that both the forensic audit and a police investigative report had cleared Abure of any wrongdoing.
“The forensic report and the police investigation conclusively proved there was no forgery. The case file sent to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) was even returned to the police because the forensic analysis exonerated all four accused persons,” Arabambi stated.
Court of Appeal Ruling Shields Abure from Prosecution
Arabambi further cited the March 6, 2023, judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja (Suit No. CA/ABJ/CV/559/2023), delivered by Justices Hamma Akawu Barka, Adebukola Banjoko, and Peter Chudi Obiorah, which overturned all allegations of forgery and conspiracy against Abure.
He emphasized that only the Supreme Court has the legal authority to revisit the matter, rendering any attempts to push for prosecution futile.
LP Spokesman Accuses NLC of Political Intimidation
Arabambi didn’t hold back in his criticism of Ndubuaku and NLC President, Joe Ajaero, accusing them of using intimidation tactics to undermine the Labour Party leadership.
At this point, Ndubuaku and his master, Joe Ajaero, must understand that Abure, Farouk Umar Ibrahim, and Clement Ojukwu have no case to answer, he said.
He also mocked the NLC’s so called ultimatum to the Attorney General, calling it a laughable stunt with no legal weight.
“The matter is settled. The Court of Appeal ruling stands, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) cannot be expected to prosecute a case that has been legally closed,” he added.
Labour Party Vows to Resist Smear Campaigns
Arabambi reaffirmed that the Labour Party would not allow “baseless accusations” to derail its leadership, stressing that the party remains focused on its political mission despite external distractions.
“The Labour Party is bigger than these distractions. We will not tolerate continuous efforts to mislead the public with unfounded claims,” he said.
With legal precedent firmly in Abure’s favor, all eyes are now on the NLC’s next move as tensions within the Labour Party continue to simmer.
