Court to hear Lagos residents’ association’s application over contempt

By Lukman Olabiyi

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has fixed May 11 and 12 for the hearing of application filed by  the Incorporated Trustees of Divine Homes Residents’ Association and 30 others in the contempt proceeding initiated against them.

The alleged contemnors are facing legal action instituted by a resident, Uche Nwabueze, over a lingering dispute concerning the leadership of the estate.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, only one of the alleged contemnors was present in court, despite an earlier order issued on March 3,directing all parties to appear before the court on March 23.

Counsel to the alleged contemnors,  Abdullahi Tony Dania, informed the court that the subject matter of the contempt proceedings is currently before the Court of Appeal.

He added that his clients had filed a preliminary objection challenging the suit.

Dania further accused the applicant of abusing court processes by filing multiple suits on the same issue and abandoning some when proceedings did not favour him.

Another counsel, Valentine Agwu, who represented one of the alleged contemnors, alleged that the applicant was using law enforcement agencies and multiple court actions to harass and frustrate the respondents.

However, counsel to the applicant, Rotimi Adalumo, refuted the allegations, insisting that his client acted within the bounds of the law.

In his ruling, Justice Lewis-Allagoa noted that his earlier order mandating the appearance of all alleged contemnors remains valid, stressing that their presence in court is necessary before any application can be entertained.

The judge, however, granted the absent parties the benefit of the doubt and adjourned the matter to May 11 and 12 for further hearing.

Some the alleged contemnor include: Adisa Friday; Edmund Ejiogu, Bolaji Akinsaya, Adanaya Ukoha, Femi Lawal , Oluha Ifeanyi, Chidinma Dim, Anih Benjamin,  John Ekenedirichukwu, Obioha Okengwu,  Chijioke OnyemaJohn Adepoju, Ganika Abba, Lawal Oluwayemisi, Jinadu Usman, Babanta chijioke, Lawal Toyin, Mike Ndubisi, Taoreed Idris and other.