Contrary to insinuations in some quarters of court injunctions stopping the Association Electoral Committee (ASECO) from conducting elections into the various chapters in the western zone, the National Vice President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Dr. Kayode Farinto has said that there were no such injunctions.
The Suspended National Publicity Secretary of ANLCA, Mr. Joe Sanni had earlier in a statement warned the leadership of ANLCA against conducting elections in the zone in defiance to court orders adding that “Today-26th February 2019 at Badagry State High Court, the Presiding Judge issued a stern warning to parties violating his order restraining parties from actions that offends the matter before his court, in observance of maintaining the status quo”.
Sanni continued,”He further warned that he will not hesitate committing violators to Prison.
“His attention was also brought to pending suit at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, which restraining order emanated from decisions of the Emergency NEC meeting, made at Abuja on 17th December 2018, to maintain status quo, pending the determination of the processes brought before his court.
“This means any decision, which includes the reconstituted ASECO, are debarred from executing any directive thereof.
“Therefore, status quo must be maintained until 27th & 28th of March 2019, when the suits will come up again for hearing.
“So, those pretending to want to hold elections in any part of the Western Zone of ANLCA should beware of committing contempt of court and thus risking going to jail”.
But in a swift reaction, Farinto noted that he was unaware of any court order restraining ASECO from conducting the Western zone elections as according to him, the one previously issued by a Federal High Court in Lagos was lifted while that of the Lagos State High Court, Badagry Division had expired after seven days as it was time barred.
He said,” The most important thing is that there was an order by the Federal High Court vacating the injunction and that is what we say and some people went to Badagry High Court again to get another injunction and the injunction has abated and I have never seen another order renewing the injunction.
“So, if we see a new order renewing the injunction, we can give it to our lawyer to interpret. The Chairman of ASECO is a lawyer himself, he will look at the interpretation. So, I am not in-charge of our election, I am the Vice president. So, the Chairman of ASECO is a lawyer, he already had the first ruling that the injunction had been vacated and the second injunction was timed for seven days, meaning that it has expiration. So, if it is renewed, then the judge or whosoever is aggrieved should give us the order where the judge said he is renewing the injunction because I am not aware of any presently”.
On whether the case at Badagry High Court was different from the one at the Federal High Court, Farinto who is also the Managing Director of Wealthy Honey Investment Limited had this to say,” They are the same just that the man that rushed to court forgot to tell the court that his tenure has expired. Your tenure has expired and you want to remain in office, can you live in a house when there is no foundation? So, the initial mandate he got expired on the 14th of January, 2019 or thereabout and we have not had election in the Western zone. So, why are you rushing to court that the court should give us an injunction not to conduct an election? And even if you are getting an injunction, the injunction was actually timed, it has expiration and it has expired”.
He however disclosed that the 27th and 28th March, 2019 date by the Badagry High Court was for the hearing on the substantive case and not to debate on the injunction earlier granted by the court.
Send your news, press releases/articles to augustinenwadinamuo@yahoo.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @ptreporters and on Facebook on facebook.com/primetimereporters or call the editor on 07030661526, 08053908817.
