By Editor

*Orders status quo to be maintained *Remits case file to court registry for reassignment *Adjourns case to October 13 for hearing of substantive application

The High Court of Lagos State sitting at Ikeja has restrained the Ikeja Branch Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Bartholomew Aguegbodo, together with other members of the Executive Committee and the Election Committee appointed by him, from proceeding with the By-elections previously scheduled to take place on the 27th of August, 2021.

The order was made by Honourable Justice D. T. Olatokun in Suit No: ID/4747GCW/2021 between Roselyn Obakpolor Esq. & Anor vs. Registered Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) & 14 Ors.

The Applicants, via Motion Ex-parte, had amongst other reliefs sought for “An order of interim injunction restraining the 2nd to 12th Defendants, including the 14th to 16th Defendants (the purported Election Committee Members) form taking any step or further steps whatsoever towards the conduct of elections into the vacant positions of NEC Rep and Treasurer of NBA Ikeja Branch, pending the hearing of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction”.

At the resumed hearing on 23rd August, 2021, Counsel to the Claimants, Ademola Ijaoba, Esq sought to move the application. However, Counsel to the 1st Defendant in the suit (Registered Trustees of the NBA), Suleiman Ehizojie, Esq. who appeared with Ibrahim Giwa-Osagie, Esq., informed the Court that they had just been briefed and that they intend to file their processes on behalf of the 1st Defendant and in the circumstances asked for an adjournment to enable him to do the needful. He also informed the Court that given the pendency of the suit and the position of the law, parties are bound to maintain the status quo pending the hearing of the applications on the merit.

The Counsel for the 13th Defendant, Kunle Oladoyin, Esq. made a similar application.

In a Bench Ruling made available to ASKLEGALPALACE, the Court directed the status quo be maintained pending the hearing of the Substantive suit

“AFTER the submissions of A.M. Ijaoba for 1st and 2nd Claimants/Applicants with him is Ngozi Eze, Suleiman Ehizogie with him is Ibrahim Giwa Osagie for 1st Defendant and O.M. Oladoyin for 13th Defendant respectively. No representation for other Defendants.

“Upon the agreement by all counsel in court today in this matter, the court hereby orders that status quo be maintained pending the hearing of the substantive application.” The Court held.

The Case was adjourned to 13th October, 2021 for hearing of the substantive application. The Case filed was also remitted to the Registry for reassignment.

The Court held, “Case adjourned to 13th October, 2021 for hearing of the substantive application.

“File is hereby remitted to the Registry for reassignment of case file by the Hon. Admin. Judge (Ikeja).”