A Federal High Court, Abuja has warned Mr Abdusallam Saleh, counsel to the Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL) and its Group Managing Director (GMD), Abubakar Maina, against act of misconduct in a suit filed against his clients and others by the Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML) and its Managing Director (MD), Abubakar Faruk.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed gave the warning after Saleh interrupted the judge while delivering a ruling.
It would be recalled that AMML and Faruk (1st and 2nd claimants) had filed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1035/2023 against AICL, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Permanent Secretary of FCT as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.
Also joined in the suit include Mr Abubakar Sadiq Maina, Engr. Mohammed Abbas Yakubu and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as 4th to 6th defendants in a suit dated and filed on Aug. 8.
The claimants, in an ex-parte motion moved by their lawyer, Emmanuel Omoisu, on Aug 10, had prayed the court for four orders, including an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants or their agents from taking any step in giving effect to the purported reappointment and filling of the particulars of Mr Onya Ojiji as company secretary of AMML pending the hearing and determination of the counterpart motion on notice.
They also sought an order of interim injunction restraining Mr Ojiji from parading himself as AMML secretary.
Besides, they sought an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants or agents from altering the records of the company maintained at the CAC, “either by way of changing the name of the AMML, altering the shareholders or directors or any other structure or identity of the 1st applicant (AMML) from the way it was before the filing of this suit.”
The claimants, then, prayed for an order of interim injunction directing parties to maintain the status quo ante, in the constitution of the board of directors and the general management and business affairs of the 1st applicant, prior to the filing of the suit.
Justice Mohammed had directed the defendants to appear before the court in the next adjourned date (today) to show cause why the interim orders of injunction should not be granted.
The judge, who ordered that the motion on notice and the originating summons be served on all defendants, directed the parties to maintain status quo ante bellum till next adjourned date (today).
When the matter was called, counsel to the claimants, Faruk Khamagam, informed that based on the court order, the defendants were served on Monday and only the 1st and 4th defendants filed affidavits to show cause while the 2nd, 3rd and 5th defendants filed preliminary objections.
The lawyer, who indicated his intention to file his responses to the affidavits to show cause and the preliminary objections, prayed for an adjournment.
Saleh also sought an adjournment on his client’s behalf to enable him file an affidavit to show cause since he was within time to file.
Lawyers who appeared for other parties did not object to the applications.
Meanwhile, while Justice Mohammed was delivering the ruling for adjournment, Saleh stood up and cut in just when the judge made a pronouncement on an order for parties to maintain status quo.
The judge, who condemned Saleh’s action, said he would not tolerate such misconduct any longer.
“Don’t you have respect for the court? This will be the last time I will take this from you Mr Saleh,” he said.
The lawyer quickly apologised.
Mohammed, who adjourned the matter until Aug. 24 for hearing, ordered parties in the suit to maintain a status quo until the next adjourned date.
