Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has barred the police from interfering in the leadership crisis involving the petroleum tankers union in Lagos.
The judge, who made the order sequel to an ex parte application filed and argued by counsel to the applicants, Olumide Oyewole, ordered the police to stay all action and maintain the status quo in the matter brought by members of the Ejigbo branch of the Petroleum Tankers Association (PTDA), who accused the police of breaching their fundamental rights.
The judge also ordered the police not to do anything that would breach the fundamental rights of the applicants, pending hearing and determination of the substantive suit or pending further order from the court.
The applicants: Ganiyu Oyebola, Adebola Alani Akala, Basiru Adebayo Akangbe, Jimoh Abdulrahman Danlori, Wasiu Ankelo, Bolaji Babalola, among others, listed the Inspector General of Police, Deputy Inspector General of Police (FCID), the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Emmanuel Ade-Aina, the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Saheed Adigun Omogbolahan, Augustine Egbon, Williams Akporeha and Olawale as respondents in the suit, marked FHC/L/CS/2661/2023.
The applicants had asked for the following reliefs: “An order for interim injunction restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents, either by themselves, agents servants and privies from taking any further steps or actions on matters pertaining to and/or relating to the leadership disputes and or succession into political offices of the Petroleum Tankers Drivers Association, Ejigbo Unit, Lagos State, pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons in these proceedings, among other reliefs.”
The applicants, in an affidavit in support of the motion ex parte deposed to by one Ganiyu Oyebola, averred that they are members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association of Ejigbo Satellite Depot.
They averred that the 1st respondent, Inspector General of Police, is the person under whose control, directive and instructions the 2nd, 3rd, & 4th respondents carry out their legitimate and or constitutional duties and responsibilities as police officers.
Justice Aluko, after listening to the applicants’ counsel, ordered that the status quo be maintained and that the defendant should stop all action on the matter until hearing and determination of the substantive suit. The judge also adjourned till February 8, 2024 for hearing of the substantive suit.
