4th November, 2010
A suit filed by Three Wheelers Beneficiaries/Operators Association of Nigeria (TWBOAN), against the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), over interference in its affairs has been adjourned till 30 November, 2010 for hearing.
The suit number FHC/IKJ/Cs/36/2010, was filed at the Federal High Court, Ikeja, by Chief Tunji Oyeniyi, Messrs. A. Adewale, Moses Buhari and Dauda Ganiyu, on behalf of themselves as trustees and members of the state executive council of the association and other members.
The applicants want the court to determine whether or not its association (5th applicant), having been registered with its trustees under Section 678 and 679 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, could be subjected to the wishes and desires of the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation and Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, (2nd and 3rd respondents), to conduct its internal affairs.
Also, considering the provision of Section 681 and 683 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, the applicants wondered whether or not the Lagos State government (1st respondent) has power and authority to compel TWBOAN (5th applicant), to stop its operation through the Commissioner for Transportation, Special Adviser to the Governor and Commissioner of Police (2nd, 3rd and 7th respondents) respectively.
The applicants also wondered whether the respondents have the right to dissolve their association or cancel the election of officers into the state executive of the association, calling for the declaration of the court that the state government and its agents have no power or authority to forcefully merge TWBOAN with NURTW and KORAN.
They also prayed the court to declare that the state government and its agents have no power or authority to annul or cancel or not recognise any election of members of TWBOAN at state, branch and unit levels, adding that they also have no right to seal their Agege state secretariat.
Defendants in the suit are Lagos State Government, Commissioner for Transportation, Special Adviser on Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa; National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and its Lagos branch, Keke Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (KORAN) and the Lagos Commissioner of Police.
