Court restrains Total from evicting firm from lube bay

A Lagos High Court has restrained Total Nigeria Plc from
evicting Automatic Fits and Energy Nigeria Ltd and Segmat Springs
Ltd from Total’s Lube Bays assigned to them.

Justice Lateefat Folami said the order would subsist pending
hearing and determination of the substantive suit filed against
Total by Automatic Fits and Segmat.

The two firms had sought an injunction restraining Total from
evicting them.

Automatic Fit with over 400 staff, named Global Most Trusted
Quality Automobile Care Services Company last year, claimed that
Total threatened to evict it from the Lube Bays assigned to it over
10 years ago.

It alleged the multinational company was out to exploit local
content and throw its workers into labour market.

Along with Segmat, the firm approached the court to enforce
their rights to the bays.

Lawyers to Automatic Fits and Segmat Springs, Oludare Falana of
Nu Stream Solicitors, in a January 25 letter to Total’s Managing
Director Imran Barry warned against “clandestine and deliberate
activities by your agents to forcefully eject our client, its
agents and workers from the lube bays assigned to it across Nigeria
pursuant to the Lube Bay Management Agreement dated 1st November,
2016.”

The lawyers added: “Please note that the issue forms the basis
of the above mentioned suit. Once a matter is sub-judice as in the
instant case, all parties are meant to steer clear of any action
that may foist a fait accompli on the Honourable Court without
treading the path of due process of the law.

“Take notice that our client and its agents will vehemently
resist any attempt by any of your staff, agents, servants and
privies to forcefully eject or take over any of the Lube Bays
assigned to it.

“In furtherance, it shall not hesitate to arrest and ensure the
prosecution of any of your staff, agents, servants and privies that
violate the order of the court made on January 25, 2019 or take
laws into its hands during the pendency of this matter before the
honourable court.”