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- From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML) has raised the alarm over the looming threat to peace and security of its staff and existing markets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) occassioned by the protracted leadership crisis.
While seeking the intervention of the Permanent Secretary of the FCT on the lingering crisis, the organization expressed worry that some sordid events are currently putting its survival, Staff, Security and wellbeing of our markets in jeopardy.
In a statement on Wednesday, the company’s Secretary and Legal Adviser, Felix Edache Abuh specifically drew the attention of the Permanent Secretary to the events of July 26 where the Grouo Managing Director of Abuja Investments Ltd unilaterally wrote to all FCT owned markets, intimating them of their decision to suspend and throw open the market gates.
Abuh disclosed that the communication which was well circulated in the markets, he stated, compromised our security architecture.
“This in our operation security review may not be unconnected to the invasion of Wuse Market by suspected members of Shiite movement on Friday the 28th July 2023. This much was promptly reported to the various security agencies for proper investigation.
He said: “While still trying to solve the problems generated by the above wrong decision, on Tuesday the 1st day of August 2023, Some staff of Abuja Investments Company Ltd alongside some traders at about 6am in the morning, went into Wuse market and forcefully break into our office, chased our staff away thereby further jeopardising the security of our market and making it impossible for us to raise revenue for the provision of services across markets.
“From the information at our disposal this is one of the many steps being taken in cohort with some dismissed staff of AMML to take over the market with the view of claiming and deceiving security agencies into believing that they are the authentic staff of AMML so that they can use the security agencies to chase away the MD/CEO of AMML and the authentic staff of AMML out of the office and forcefully annexed the office as they have done in the markets in violation of valid court orders/judgement.”
The Abuja division of the Federal High Court had nullified the redeployment of Alhaji Abubakar Faruk as the Managing Director, Abuja Markets Management Ltd (AMML) by the Board Chairman, Abubakar Maina, and the former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello.
In his judgment, Justice Donatus Okorowo consequently ordered Faruk’s reinstatement as MD of AMML.
In addition, the judge also ordered the defendants, their staff and privies to restrain themselves from interfering with the claimant’s exercise of his powers or carrying out the ordinary business of the company as an MD, including but not limited to holding board meetings.
Justice Okorowo held that the decision of Maina and Bello to reconstitute the AMML’s Board of Directors in the manner done and publish in a press release of Feb 21 and inaugurated the said board on April 4 was unlawful, null and void.
He further held that the action of the duo contravened provisions of Sections 269(1) to (4), 273(1), 274(1) to (3) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020; Articles 16, and 21 of AMML’s Memorandum and Articles of Association and all other enabling laws and instruments applicable in the circumstances of the case.
