Court Stops Police From Taking Action In PTDA Leadership Tussle

Justice Akintayo Aluko, of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, has 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 Drivers Association (PTDA), who accused the Police of breaching their fundamental rights.

Justice Aluko made the order while ruling on an Ex-parte application, brought by the members of the Ejigbo, Lagos Branch of the Association.

The Judge also ordered the Police not to do anything that would breach the Applicants’ fundamental rights, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit, or pending further order from the court.

The Applicants in the matter who include, Ganiyu Oyebola, Adebola Alani Akala, Basiru Adebayo Akangbe, Jimoh Abdulrahman Danlori, Wasiu Ankelo, Bolaji Babalola among others, have 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 Nigerian 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, through their Lawyer, Olumide Oyewole, have asked the court for the following reliefs; “an order for an interim injunction restraining the first, second, third and fourth Respondent, 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 injection restraining the first, second, third and fourth Respondent 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 fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth Respondent, pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Summons in these proceedings.

“An order restraining the first, second, third and fourth Respondent either by themselves, agents, servants and privies, from engaging in any further acts of harassment and intimidation of the Applicants by way of arrest and detention on matters pertaining to and or connected with leadership and or political tussle within the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association, pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Summons in these proceedings.” Amongst others,

the Applicants therefore, urged the court to grant the reliefs sought.

After listening to the Applicants’ Counsel, Justice Aluko in his ruling, ordered that the status quo be maintained and that the Defendant stop all action on the matter until the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The Judge thereafter adjourned the matter till February 8, 2024, for hearing of the substantive suit.