Court Restrains NBA Ikeja Branch Electoral Committee From Proceeding With Bye-election

*Orders Status Quo To Be Maintained
*Remits Case File To 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 Nairalaw, 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).”

*Orders Status Quo To Be Maintained
*Remits Case File To 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 Nairalaw, 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).”