Oando seeks to join Tinubu’s suit against SEC – TheNigerialawyer

Oando Plc on Monday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to
join it in a suit filed by its Group Chief Executive Officer Wale
Tinubu and his deputy Mr Omamofe Boyo against the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC).

Tinubu and Boyo are challenging SEC’s decision to remove them
from office, impose a fine on Tinubu and bar them from being
directors of public companies for five years.

Oando’s lawyer Yele Delano (SAN) told Justice Ayokunle Faji that
his client intended to be joined in the suit.

He sought an adjournment to enable him file the necessary
processes.

Besides, he also said he would be praying the court to
consolidate similar cases on the SEC decision.

Tinubu and Boyo’s lawyer Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) also urged the court
to join Oando in the suit.

He said his clients would be affected should the court refuse to
grant Oando’s application in the event it goes an appeal.

Oyetibo urged the court to take a favourable look at the
application for joinder, so that progress can be made in the
suit.

But, SEC’s lawyer Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN) said the case was
set for hearing, and that he was ready to go on.

The court had on June 3 restrained the SEC from acting on its
decision against the plaintiffs.

Ruling on an ex-parte application filed by Tinubu and Boyo,
Justice Mojisola Olatoregun ordered parties to maintain status
quo.

SEC had on May 31 announced the conclusion of an investigation
of Oando and ordered Tinubu and other affected board members to
resign.

On June 2, it announced it had set up an interim management team
headed by Mr Mutiu Sunmonu to oversee the company’s affairs and to
conduct an Extraordinary General Meeting on or before July 1 to
appoint new directors to the board, who would subsequently select a
management team

Tinubu and Boyo filed the suit numbered FHC/L/CS/910/19 to
challenge the SEC decision.

They sought “an order of interim injunction restraining the
second respondent (Sunmonu) from acting as the head of the interim
management of Oando Plc pending the hearing and determination of
the motion for interlocutory injunction.”

After hearing the applicants counsel, Justice Olatoregun ruled:
“That an interim order of injunction is granted within the prayers
sought; parties are to maintain the status quo ante pending the
determination of the motion on notice.”

Meanwhile, based on another application, the court granted leave
to Tinubu and Boyo to file a motion for a judicial review of SEC’s
decision.

Justice Ayokunle Faji granted “an order of certiorari bringing
up to the Federal High Court for the purpose of being quashed, the
decision of the first respondent (SEC) contained in its letter
dated 31st May 2019”.

Delano prayed both suits be consolidated.

Justice Faji adjourned until July 4 for arguments.

He fixed July 22 for hearing of the substantive suit.