Appeal Court adjourn’s Tokyo case till January

The Nigerian Court of Appeal in Ibadan on Tuesday adjourned the case between the Oyo state Government and Alhaji Lateef Akinsola, the ex-chairman of the National Union Road Transport Workers (NURTW), to Jan. 15, 2014.

The government had filed an appeal against the judgment of a federal high court to reinstate Akinsola, also known as “Tokyo’’, as the union’s chairman. Mr M.A. Ganiyu, counsel to the state government, told the court that he had filed and served an application, dated Nov. 26, just before the court commenced sitting.

“The application, which was filed today, is for an extension of time to appeal,” he said.

However, Mr Abiodun Amole, counsel to Akinsola, did not raise any objection.

“Although I was served this morning in court, I, however, have no objection,” he said.

The presiding judge, Justice Chidi Uwa, ordered Ganiyu to ensure that other respondents in the suit were served in due time.

“We cannot be talking about any brief or appeal when other respondents have yet to be served,” she said.

He, thereafter, adjourned the hearing of the appeal till Jan. 15, 2014.

NAN recalls that Akinsola filed a contempt of court suit against the state government for failing to honour the judgment of the federal high court to reinstate him as the chairman.

Justice Abimbola Obaseki-Adejumo of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, however, struck out the contempt suit on Oct. 24 on the grounds that the government had already filed an appeal. (NAN)