An Ikeja High Court in Lagos on Thursday set aside Feb. 21 next year to determine whether the Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps is operating legally in the country or not.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo stated this while ruling on a Notice of Consequence of Disobedience to Order of Court brought against one Mrs Yemisi Kefas and Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim.
The suit was brought before the court by Commodore Allen Edema on behalf of the group which claims to be a maritime and petroleum security and safety corps.
Edema and 95 others had approached the court on Feb. 2 to enforce an Order that their forceful eviction from their office at No. 6 Force Road , Onikan, Lagos by police officers acting on the instructions of Kefas was unconstitutional, null and void.
They had claimed that Kefas, who is of the Lagos Liaison Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government, had violated their fundamental rights as enshrined under Sections 34,35,36,40 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Taiwo had ruled on April 13, giving an Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the respondents and their officers from threatening the claimants and a Mandatory Order compelling Kefas to unseal the said premises.
Kefas, according to the claimants, had failed to heed this Order, prompting a fresh suit compelling her to do so or be faced with contempt of court charges.
However, at the ruling, Taiwo set aside the ruling of the court on April 13 based on a counter-affidavit submitted by the respondents counsel, Ngozi Kanu.
The judge noted that the denial by the respondent that she was not properly served the originating summons which led to the default Order earlier given by the court, was not substantive.
The tussle over the ownership of the said property had been on-going for over a year as the Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps claims it was given to them for operations by Secretary to Federal Government, Yayale Ahmed while he was serving as Head of Service of the Federation.
Kefas in her affidavit is alleging that the organization is operating illegally as it is not recognized by any law and the Corporate Affairs Commission.
She further alleged that it and has no relationship with the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.
No comments:
Post a Comment