By Gabriel Dike
Justice Daniel Emeka Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has berated the factional President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Chief Abayomi Otubela for disobeying court order issued last year.
According to the Certified True Copy (CTO) obtained by Daily Sun, Justice Osiagor had in February 2024, ordered both parties not to take any action until the case is decided
The case with suit no: FHC/L/CS/279/2024, was instituted by Chief Otubela along with 17 other plaintiffs against the defendants lead by the Incorporated Trustees of NAPPS and 16 others.
At the resumed hearing, lawyers for the defendants, Gabriel Nona and E.A. Ajayi, informed Justice Osiagor that the plaintiffs, against the court order, took certain actions, which affected the defendants.
The lawyer told the court that Otubela went against the order to maintain the status quo and proceeded to remove and replace the Trustees of the 1st defendant, who he sued.
Nona further informed the judge that Otubela also proceeded to register the contested 2023 Constitution of NAPPS with the C.A.C, 23rd defendant.
The counsel to the defendant told the court that the plaintiff went round NAPPS branches and replaced state executive officers and wrote the banks to freeze all the accounts of the defendant.
Nona argued that the plaintiff took possession and sealed up the defendant secretariat in Lagos State and used police to harass members of the defendant.
Lawyers for the plaintiff, A.B.Odunbunmi and Chima Onwukwe, submitted that they are not aware of the defendant’s counsel submission and urged the court to grant them a short adjournment to respond to the application filled by the defendant.
Justice Osiagor noted that on February 20th, 2024, he ordered the parties to maintain the status quo, pending the hearing of the motion on notice, and that it was the plaintiff, who came to ask of the injustice reliefs.
Justice Osiagor ruled that “every step taken by the plaintiff from 20th, February 2024, are hereby set aside. The judge adjourned the case to April 2025 for hearing.