Court
Lawyer, new transport union drag Lagos Govt, NURTW, RTEAN, others to court over illegal levies
Legal practitioner, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, has filed a suit at the before the Federal High Court, Lagos challenging the continued payment of levies enforced by the Lagos State Government, and some transport unions on non-members of their associations in the state.
Ogungbeje, in the suit filed also on behalf of a new union, the Transport Union Society of Nigeria (TUSON), is asking the court to halt further extortion of non-members of the listed transport unions in the state.
The suit listed the Lagos State Government, the suspended chairman of the state chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Musilu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo), Registered Trustees of NURTW; Registered Trustees of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN); Registered Trustees of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and others as respondents.
Others listed in the suit as respondents included; Alhaji Lawal Yusuf Othman; Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, Moyosore Onigbanjo ( SAN); Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and Director of State Security Service (SSS).
According to the applicant, the suit was filed pursuant to Section 33, 36, 40, and 46 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Order 4, Rules 3; 4(4)(5) and 11 of the fundamental rights enforcement procedure rules, 2009.
Moving a Motion Exparte before court on Friday, Ogungbeje asked the court for an order restraining the respondents jointly and severally, whether by themselves, their agents, officials, servants privies, officers and/or whosoever called from forceful imposition, collection, extortion, and collection of any transport union levies. dues, fees or monies from non members of their unions.
He also asked the court for an order restraining the state government and its Attorney-General, jointly and severally, whether by themselves, their Ministries, Organs, agents, officials. servants, privies, officials, officers and/or whatsoever called from further enforcement or implementation of the N800, 00, as due from transporters.
After hearing Ogungbeje’s submissions, presiding judge, Justice Lifu ordered all the respondents in the suit to show course within seven days from the day they were served with the application, why the orders sought for should not be granted.
Justice Lifu adjourned the matter till May 24, 2022, for further hearing.
