A Rivers State High Court presided over by Justice Sika Aprioku has sacked the Tony Okocha led seven-man caretaker committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.

Delivering judgement in a suit filed by Sam Etetegwung, Banarth Ezemoye and Ezekiel Ubom, the Court held that the Emeka Bekee led elected executive of Rivers State APC was illegally removed by the national leadership of the party and therefore ordered their immediate reinstatement.

The Court thereafter restrained the national leadership of the APC from further recognition of the Tony Okocha led seven-man caretaker committee as executive of Rivers APC.

It also issued a perpetual injunction restraining Tony Okocha or any member of the seven-man caretaker committee from taking actions that might distract the Emeka Bekee led APC pending the expiration of their four-year tenure.

Recall that the court had in an earlier ruling on the matter dismissed an application for joinder filed by some members of the APC allegedly loyal to its Vice Chairman, South-South, Victor Giadom for lacking in merit.

However, in a swift reaction, the sacked Tony Okocha led seven-man caretaker committee has stated that it is unperturbed by the judgement.

This position was contained in a press statement signed by its spokesperson, Chibike Ikenga, who described it as a rebellious judgement against earlier judgements of the Supreme Court.

The statement noted that the sacked caretaker committee will appeal the judgement, assuring its supporters that the caretaker committee still holds sway in the State.