ASPMDA urges LASG to obey court orders

The Registered Members of Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPMDA) has called on the Lagos State government to obey court orders, maintain the status quo pending the suit over its association’s election.

Justice P.O. Lifu of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had on July 22, 2021, in a suit between Ikechukwu Ogbo & Ors against ASPMDA mandates all parties, members of the association, all and sundry to maintain status quo on the removal of the Chief Sunday Igbanuzue as the Interim Caretaker committee.

The court ordered the group not to conduct the association’s election pending when the matters before it are fully determined.

The group alleged that seven members of the association, with the support of a Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor, instigated and coopted the Lagos State Attorney-General to issue a letter dated October 18, 2021, indicating that a three-man caretaker committee has been appointed.

Their appointment was to take over the leadership of an association duly registered in line with relevant laws of Nigeria and not based on any Lagos State Laws, the group said that the association is located within the space of land owned and controlled by the Federal Government.

The association also noted that they find it absurd that immediately after the letter of October 18, 2021, was written, the office of the counsel to the plaintiffs wrote a letter dated October 20, 2021, informing the Lagos Attorney-General of the pendency of a suit as well as the order of the court, which they duly acknowledged the same day.

The association alleged that the Attorney General disregarded it and provided Anthony Ohagwu-led interim committee security through the Police to forcibly take over the affairs of the association and carry on with the conduct of the general election.

“We find it very laughable that the chief law officer of the state and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who is expected to guide the governor towards giving respect to judicial process, is deeply involved in an act of disobedience of court order.

“Though, the State Attorney-General attributed his action to the enforcement of the judgment in suit LD/2588/2018 Between; Mr. Obinna Obojiofor & Ors v. ASPMDA, which was delivered on November 28, 2018, in respect of the tenure of the then Chief Daniel Offorkansi-led executive committee, which does not apply to Chief Sunday Igbanuzue-lead committee.

“Aside from the fact that the duties of the office of the Attorney General are not that of the Sherriff of the court imbued with powers to enforce the judgment, the Ohagwu committee sought to be imposed now is not the Chief Security Officer that the said judgment in suit LD/2588/2018 directed to take over the interim leadership of the Association.

“Also, on November 11, 2021, when the matter came up, the office of the Attorney- General was duly represented likewise other parties were represented by their respective counsel.

“The Judge reiterated the order earlier granted on July 22, 2021, directed that all parties must respect the court order,” the group said.