Edo PDP drags APC to Court over ‘illegal takeover’ of secretariat

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, the state All Progressives Congress (APC) to Court over alleged illegal takeover of its Secretariat along Airport Road in Benin, the State Capital.

The PDP is also requesting the court to grant a perpetual injunction restraining Edo State APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe and his agents from further trespassing on, conducting any business within, or disturbing their peaceful occupation of the Secretariat located at No. 49, Airport in Benin.

In the writ of summons made available to our correspondent, the PDP also asked the court to order Tenebe to pay over ₦900 million in damages, including over ₦300 million as special damages for its office equipment allegedly destroyed and carted away during the takeover by the APC.

It listed the equipment to include computers, generators, and laptops, among others.

According to the document, the PDP is also asking the court for “a declaration that the Claimant is the rightful occupant of the premises known as No. 49, Airport Road, Benin, having leased same from one Mr. Enoma Agbontaen, the Landlord, whose said lease is still subsisting.”

Other prayers include: “A declaration that the violent eviction of the Claimant and its staff from the premises known as No. 49, Airport Road, Benin City, Edo State, constitutes an act of trespass in law.

“A declaration that by forcefully evicting the Claimant from its rented premises at No. 49, Airport Road, Benin City, on the 16th of January 2025, the Defendant violated the Claimant’s rights to a quiet enjoyment of its rented property and thereby caused the Claimant general damages assessed at N500,000,000.00k (Five Hundred Million Naira).

“An Order for the payment of the sum of N322,765,500.00k as special damages being the value of the Claimant’s office equipment, which includes computers, generators, laptops, etc, that the Defendant and the thugs carted away and destroyed.

“Cost of emergency alternative office at Etano Hotel G.R.A., Benin City, N3,000,000.00 (three million naira) per day from 16th January to 13/2/2025 = N3,000,000.00 x 30 days N90,000,000.00 (Ninety million naira) and at N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira) from 13/2/2025 till judgment.”

The PDP also asked the court to grant “an Order of Court granting and restoring the Claimant’s rights to possession and occupation of its property known as No. 49 Airport Road, Benin City, Edo State.

“An Order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant, his agents, servants privies, assigns, any persons howsoever described acting on his behalf or instruction from further trespassing on or operating any manner of business or further disturbing the Claimant’s peaceful occupation of that premises known as No. 49, Airport Road, Benin City, Edo.”