Court Stops AP From Sacking Secretary

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A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has restrained African Petroleum plc and its Chairman, Femi Otedola from suspending Mrs Elizabeth Idigbe, the company’s Secretary/ Legal Adviser.

The petroleum marketing company had in a letter issued on 5th July, 2010 suspended Mrs Idigbe from office.

But ruling on an interim injunction filed against her suspension from office last Monday, Justice Okechukwu Okeke of Federal High Court Lagos ordered that Idigbe should remain in office as AP’s company Secretary/ Legal Adviser pending the determination of the substantive suit she filed against her suspension.

The Judge also restrained AP, its agents and Otedola from taking further action related to the purported suspension or sack of Idigbe.

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Specifically, the Court restrained Otedola who is the second defendant in the case from using his position as Chairman of Board of Directors of AP to carry out any act prejudicial to the office occupied by Idigbe pending the determination of the motion.

Idigbe was, however, made to give an undertaking by the court to pay damages if it is discovered that the injunction ought not to have been granted.

Idigbe had also prayed the court to give an order directing AP to deposit the sum of N728.6 million in an interest yielding account in the name of registrar of the court which she claimed should have been her entitlements until year 2026 when she would have been due for retirement from the company. Hearing in the substantive suit will begin on 26July.

—Oluokun Ayorinde

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