On Tuesday, the Ikoyi Federal High Court, Lagos Division, granted an application restraining a former chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Lagos branch, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, a.k.a. MC Oluomo, and eight others from collecting union dues and levies from commercial drivers that are non-union members at all motor parks in Lagos State.
The ex parte application also restrained the state Government from further enforcing an N800 transport union levy on transporters and commercial vehicles in the state, pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiffs’ substantive originating motion.
Others affected by the order are Registered Trustees Of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW); Registered Trustees Of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN); Registered Trustees Of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).
Justice Peter Lifu granted the application following an ex parte motion filed by a lawyer, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, for himself and on behalf of a new association, the Transport Union Society of Nigeria (TUSON).
Ogungbeje filed his application, supported by a 34-paragraph affidavit, in Suit FHC/L/CS/224/2022.
Ogungbeje had dragged Mc Oluomo and other transport unions before the court alongside, Alhaji Lawal Yusuf Othman; Lagos State Government; Attorney-General of Lagos State; Inspector-General of Police (IGP), and Director of State Security Service (SSS).
In the application, Mr. Ogungbeje had asked the court for an order to restrain all the respondents jointly and severally, whether, by themselves, their agents, officials, or whosoever called from forceful imposition, collection, extortion, further forceful imposition, and collection of any transport Union levies, dues, fees or monies Motor-Parks levies, dues, fees or monies, Bus-Stop levies, dues, fees or monies, Vehicle Garage levies, or any Transport Union Monies, dues or levies from any person, commercial vehicle driver and or transporter that is not a member of the respondents in connection with the facts of this case pending the hearing and determination of the Substantive originating motion filed before the Court.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday, May 24, Ogungbeje informed the court that all respondents have been served with all the processes as directed by the court. Adding that the respondents despite being served failed to show cause within seven days as directed by the court.
He, therefore, urged the court to grant all his reliefs as prayed.
Justice Lifu after listening to the lawyer’s submission and noting that all the respondents were served as directed by the court but failed to show cause, held that “all the reliefs sought for by the applicant are hereby granted.”
Justice Lifu after granting the applicant’s reliefs, also adjourned till June 6, to rule on the applicant’s motion to join other parties to the suit.
Those seeking to be joined in the suit by the applicant are the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State; Nigeria Police; Mr. Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa; The Registered Trustees of Motorcycle Operation Association of Lagos State (MOALS), and The Registered Trustees of Tricycle Owners and Operator Association of Nigeria (TOOAN).
Others are the Registered Trustees of Nagari Nakowa Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Lagos State; (NNAMORAL) HRH OBA Adeshina Suleiman Raji, A.k.a JAFO Authority; Lagos State Park and Garages Management Committee; Mr. Hakeem Odumosu (AIG) (Rtd) and Dr. Taiwo Olufemi Salam.
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