*Orders Its Proscription

A High Court sitting in Enugu has held that the political involvement of SEFORP 2023 Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited in the Southeast contravenes the Nigerian Cooperative Societies Act.

Justice Comfort Ani, made this order on 20th January, while delivering a judgment in the suit filed by Obiezu Nwachukwu against the Hon. Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Poverty Reduction, Enugu State; the Director of Cooperative Societies, Enugu state, SEFORP2023 Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited and Rev. Okechukwu Christopher Obioha.

In the SUIT NO: E/727/ 2020, the Plaintiff through his counsel Nkemakolam Okoro, S. C Esq, averred that the 3rd Defendant as a registered cooperatie society, under the Nigerian Cooperative Society Act, the 4th Defendant cannot lawfully use the registered name, in any form, to undertake or organize political rallies, conferences, for the southeast presidency in 2023.

According to the certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment made available to THENIGERIALAWYER, Justice Ani Comfort Chiyere, ordered that all meetings, conferences, decisions, communiques, reached/taken by virtue of meetings convened by the society group are illegal, unconstitutional, unlawful and ultra vires its powers, as it affects Southeast indigenes, with respect of the Southeast presidency in 2023 as illegal, null, void and of no effects whatsoever.

She further granted an order of perpetually restraining the cooperative society from participating in any form or manner, in any political activities or convening any political meetings for the discussions or deliberations as it affects the Southeast indigenes and Southeast presidency in 2023, either in Enugu or in Nigeria as a whole.

Justice Ani added that by virtue of its registration as a Cooperative Society in Enugu, and by virtue of the Bye laws, it is limited only to advocate for the welfare of its members alone, as it has no legal capacity to advocate for the Southeast presidency in 2023 for all the indigenes of the Southeast states of the country.

“The 1st and 2nd Defendants are hereby ordered to deregister or cancel registration of the 3rd Defendant as a cooperative society, under Nigerian Cooperative Societies Act, for engaging in ultra vires act,” the court held.