PTDA Leadership Tussle: Court Orders Police to Maintain Status Quo

A Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, has ordered the police to stay all action and maintain 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.

Justice Akintayo Aluko made the order, yesterday, sequel to an ex-parte application filed and argued by counsel to applicants, Olumide Oyewole

The judge also ordered the police not to do anything that would breach the fundamental rights of the applicants pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit or pending further order from the court.

The applicants, who include: Ganiyu Oyebola, Adebola Alani Akala, Basiru Adebayo Akangbe, Jimoh Abdulrahman Danlori, Wasiu Ankelo, Bolaji Babalola among others, had sued the Inspector General of police, Deputy Inspector General of police (FCID), the Assistant Inspector-General of police Zone 2, CP Emmanuel Ade-Aina, the Nigerians Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers ( NUPENG), Saheed Adigun Omogbolahan, Augustine Egbon, Williams Akporeha and Olawale Afolabi, who were listed as respondents in the suit marked FHC/L/CS/2661/2023.

The applicants had amongst other asked the court for; “an order for interim injunction  restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 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.

“An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st 2nd 3rd & 4th Respondents either by themselves, agents servants and privies from engaging in any further acts of harassment and intimidation of the Applicants by way of issuance of any invitation letter, issuance of threat of arrest and detention, and the actual arrest and detention of the applicants upon the allegations of the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th Respondents pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Summons in these proceedings.

Justice Aluko, after listening to applicants’ counsel, in his ruling, ordered that status quo be maintained and that the defendant should stop all action on the matter until the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.