The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt today fined the two factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for withdrawing their suits before it.

The court awarded the cost of N30,000 to the Ojukaye Flag-Amachree group and N20,000 to Ibrahim Umar and others, a faction loyal to Magnus Abe, respectively.

This was after it struck out the suits filed by both parties in Appeal No. CA/PH/246m/2018, an application for joinder by the Chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the APC, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree and others, and preliminary objection to the motion for joinder by Abe’s loyalists.

The determination of the three appeals before the Court of Appeal today is symbolic as it would be a deciding factor as to wins the power tussle over control of the APC in Rivers State between Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, and Senator Magnus Abe.

The appellants, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree and co., withdrew their application for joinder to make way for speedy hearing of the main appeal, which is Appeal No: CA/PH/198/2018.

The respondents, Ibrahim Umar and others, also withdrew their preliminary objection to the motion for joinder, which was also struck out by the Appeal Court.

The court adjourned for recess after hearing arguments by counsels to both the appellants and respondents in the main  suit: CA/PH/198/18.

Upon resumption, the Court of Appeal adjourned to November 14, 2018 for hearing on the motion filed by the respondents and the substantive matter.

Both parties were ordered to reply each other on points of law within five days.