A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, has mandated the Chairman of the Lagos State Park and Garages Management, Musiliu Akinsanya, better known as MC Oluomo, and eight other members of the union to stop collecting levies from commercial drivers in the State.
The order, handed down on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 was issued by Justice Peter Lifu.
He gave the order in response to an ex parte application filed by a lawyer, Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje. The lawyer filed the application on behalf of himself and a new transport union, Transport Union Society of Nigeria, the Punch reports.
Other respondents in the suit are the Registered Trustees of the National Union of Road Transport Workers; Registered Trustees of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria; Registered Trustees of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners; Alhaji Lawal Othman; the Lagos State Government; Attorney-General of Lagos State; Inspector-General of Police and the Director of State Security Service (SSS).
The plaintiff urged the court to stop the imposition, collection, extortion of any transport union levies; dues, fees, or monies from any person, commercial vehicle driver or transporter that is not a member of the respondents; pending the hearing and determination of the substantive originating motion filed before the same court.
In addition, the court was urged to restrain the respondents from arresting, detaining, harassing, embarrassing, humiliating, inviting, seizing, and confiscating any commercial vehicle; disturbing or interfering with the lawful transport business operations of the plaintiff; as well as other transport union members in connection with the facts of the case; pending the determination of the substantive originating motion.
Justice Lifu granted the reliefs sought by the plaintiff after being told that the respondents were duly served the court processes; but failed to present their reasons within seven days why the reliefs sought by the applicants should not be granted, as he had requested.
Consequently, he adjourned the case till June 6 to determine the applicants’ motion to add other parties to the suit.
