Ben Adoga, Abuja
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC is troubled over the suspension  of their party’s national chairman and other officials.

While the NLC insists that in spite of the court pronouncement, Julius Abure remains their party national  chairman, they say the suspension of key officials of the party on frivolous accounts is a ploy to weaken the party ahead of the struggle to reclaim it’s mandates.

The NLC in a statement on Thursday said: “We are alarmed by the decision of Justice Hamza Muazu of the  High Court in the Federal Capital Territory,  Abuja via exparte  to suspend from office the  National Chairman, the National Secretary, National Treasurer and the Publicity Secretary  of the Labour Party, Messrs Julius Abure, Alhaji Farouk Ibrahim, Clement Ojukwu and Opara respectively on unfounded/unproven and highly speculative and malicious allegations of corruption, perjury and forgery by elements whose interest in the party could best be described as doubtful or dubious.”

“We  view the  decapitation of the leadership of the party with great suspicion which cannot be far from the  intent to  weaken the party from within  or  distract it from   its fight to reclaim its victories at the polls.

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“In light of this, we urge the courts to exercise utmost caution in entertaining frivolous suits and  spurious  prayers from mercenary party members as  they are capable of compromising the integrity of the courts.

“We similarly join the league of those who canvass  against the casual use of exparte’ in light of the grieviousness of the  injuries they quite often inflict.

“We also note that this extant court  order does not only violate the principle of presumption of innocence, a cardinal  pillar of our judicial system, it is an affront to justice itself. We find it curious  that while  ex-convicts continue to occupy ample space in the public service or space without let or hindrance,  those yet to be found guilty are already being harangued or hounded are being debarred from holding office.”

The NLC invites the court to review it’s decision as they would be in court in their number in the next adjourned date to listen to the case.