IPMAN’s factional president get court order over alleged contempt suit

An FCT High Court has ordered the factional president of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chief Lawson Obasi, to reply to a contempt suit filed before the court.

Justice Valentine Ashi yesterday directed Obasi, whose counsel was not in court, to file his reply within seven days.

The Chinedu Okoronkwo-led executive of IPMAN through its counsel, Karina Tunyan (SAN), had filed the preliminary objection challenging the contempt proceedings instituted against it by Obasi.

The leadership crisis worsened after the court in 2014 recognized the Chinedu Okoronkwo-led executive of the association and restrained Obasi from interfering in its activities.

A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had in 2013 declared Obasi as the chairman of the board of Registered Trustees of IPMAN, following his successful application challenging the tenure of Abdulkadir Aminu and other members of his executive.

But Justice Ashi upheld the submission of Okoronkwo that the IPMAN executive committee, being the main organ of the association, is distinct from the Registered Trustees.

Consequently, Obasi appealed the judgment at the Appeal Court in Abuja, filed for committal proceedings against Okoronkwo alleging violation of another order by a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.
Further hearing is fixed for January 24, 2017.
Additional

Meanwhile, Dr. Okoronkwo led leadership of IPMAN has asked the Court of Appeal to strike out the appeal for lack of diligent prosecution.

The appellate court has already, fixed September 22, 2016 to commence hearing in the appeal after awarding N20, 000 cost against the appellant for filling his proceeds out of time, in favour of Okoronkwo.

IPMAN has been going through a leadership tussle over which factional national president should be recognized.

As a result of the crisis, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) sometime ago shut down NIPCO, a subsidiary of IPMAN, leading to total paralysis of commercial activities and threatening distribution of petroleum products across the country.