ASPMDA: Court stops Umeji, insists on determination of Suit with Igboanuzue
At the resumed hearing of the suit between the current administration in Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Administration (ASPMDA) and ousted government led by Bro. James Umeji on Thursday, 23rd February, 2023 in Lagos, Business Hilights gathered that the Presiding Judge in her ruling said amongst other things that because there is a pending court case against James Umeji in another Court, her court should not look into or give judgment on the case Umeji brought before her.
Instead, the Judge advised Umeji to wait until the judgment from the earlier suit against him, or better still, join this suit in his defense of that case.
The Presiding Judge also confirmed that all the documents relating to the earlier suit against James Umeji are filed in our defense even the one that said that election should not be conducted yet.
Responding in a telephone interview on the matter, Bro. Umeji told Business Hilights that he is willing to comply to the latest ruling as his lead counsel, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) will as soon as possible approach the Ikeja High Court to ascertain the current status of the said case on whether it has been struck out or not.
Continuing, he averred that whereas the said Ikeja case has nothing to do with the ongoing substantive suit, his lawyer will do the needful as soon as he determines the state of the case in Ikeja.
According to him, “if the case at Ikeja is still alive, he will pursue it to a logical conclusion.”
Efforts to get the views of the immediate past ASPMDA Interim President, Sir Sony Igboanuzue on the matter could not yield positive results.
Meanwhile, majority of ASPMDA business operators have called for peace amongst all leading political actors.
Former president, Chief Dr. Johnson Ayodele Ofotube in an interview during the recent 23rd anniversary of ASPMDA called on all stakeholders in ASPMDA to bury their hatchets and give peace a chance for the progress of ASPMDA.
He further called on all agitators to withdraw their cases in court and come to a round table for a sustainable peace process in ASPMDA.
Commenting on his readiness for peace with those having court cases in ASPMDA, the incumbent President, Hon. Ngozi Emechebe had during the 23rd ASPMDA anniversary made it clear that his government is very open and ready for peaceful resolution of all litigations concerning ASPMDA.
He said his administration is very open for any meaningful peace process with all the aggrieved parties so as to move ASPMDA forward.
