16 May 2014, Abuja – An FCT High Court on Friday restrained Chief Obasi Lawson from parading himself as President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigerian (IPMAN) pending the determination of the suit.
The Plaintiff, Chinedu Okoronkwo, being a factional president of the association, in a suit number FCT/HC/4141/2014, urged the court to restrain Lawson from the act.
The Inspection-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police are also named as defendants in the suit.
The other plaintiffs include Alhaji Abubakar Shetima, Danladi Pasali, Bola Adeleke, Leo Nakmeme, Yakubu Ali-dimka and John Ubini.
Granting the plaintiffs’ application filed through their counsel, Mr Moses Ebuche, the judge, Justice Valentineg Ashi, restrained Lawson and his agents from either conducting or organising any elections of the association pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
The Judge also restrained the defendants from gaining access to the association’s national secretariat at No 41, Gnasimbe Eyadema Street, Asokoro, Abuja.
The judge, however, ordered the plaintiff to sign a bond with the registrar of the court to pay damages to the defendants should the court discover that it ought not to have granted the order in the first place.
Ashi adjourned the suit until June 2 for hearing of the substantive suit.
