An FCT High Court yesterday restrained Chief Obasi Lawson from parading himself as President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).
The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that Chief Chinedu Okoronkwo, the leader of a faction of the IPMAN, had in a suit, urged the court to restrain Lawson from the act.
Delivering ruling in a preliminary objection filed by counsel to Lawson, Mr Reuben Nwagun, Justice Valentine Ashi, held that the court had jurisdiction to determine the suit.
Ashi granted an order restraining Lawson from interfering with the
activities of IPMAN nationwide.
He also declared as illegal, the election of national executives of the association which was conducted by Lawson.
The judge also nullified the purported elections that brought Lawson as president of the association.
Ashi, however, ordered that the plaintiff (Okoronkwo) should take possession of National Secretariat of IPMAN at No 41, Gnasimbe Eyadema Street, Asokoro, Abuja.
The judge also struck out the names of the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police FCT, who were second and third defendants, respectively.
Ashi held that the second and third defendants were not necessary parties to be joined in the suit.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court had restored
an earlier order it granted against the defendant on May 14.
However, counsel to Lawson, Nwagun, told newsmen after the ruling that they were not satisfied with the decision of court.
He said his client would appeal against the decision.
On his part, Chief Moses Ebuche, counsel to Okoronkwo, told newsmen that the ruling vindicated their positions.(NAN)
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