The Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association has filed a motion before the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking to discontinue two cases instituted by its Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL).
It will be recalled that on the 27th day of February 2024, the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA- SPIDEL) filed two separate public interest suits against the Inspector General of Police seeking in the main to restrain the Inspector General of Police from proceeding to implement the Nigeria Police Force Central Motor Registry policy which seeks to subject Nigerian motorists to another form of extortion.
The second action seeks to restrain the Inspector General of Police from further providing official police protection to members of local government caretaker committees, having been outlawed by the Supreme Court in its several decisions as illegal and unconstitutional.
On the 29th May 2024, both suits marked as Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/247/2024 BETWEEN: John O. Aikpokpo-Martins, Esq. & Anor v. The Inspector General of Police & Anor and Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/248/2024 between: John O. Aikpokpo-Martins, Esq. & Anor v. Inspector General of Police & Anor came up before the Hon. Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja for mention.
Counsel to the Plaintiffs, Vincent Adodo had applied for a date for hearing of the Originating Summons, the defendants having neither entered appearance nor joined issues with the plaintiffs in the suit.
However, Counsel to the Nigerian Bar Association, Olusegun Jolaawo, SAN also brought to the attention of the Court a motion filed on the 28th May 2024 on behalf of the Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association for an order of the Court joining the applicant (NBA) as a party to the suit and also for an order of the Court discontinuing the action.
In the 25 paragraphs affidavit deposed to by one Ayodele Oni, a legal officer in the NBA Secretariat, the facts brought in support of the application included that the action was filed without the authorisation of either the NBA President or the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NBA.
The Court consequently adjourned both cases to the 18th day of July 2024 for hearing of the NBA’s motion for joinder.
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