3rd June, 2010
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, Nigeria, has reserved judgement till 7 June this year to decide wether the former vice chairman of Island Club, Prince Ademola Dada and Prince Jide Sikuade can contest in this year’s election or not.
The election that was supposed to hold last week, was postponed indefinitely pending the determination of the suit filed before the court against the club.
The current legal hostility was triggered off by a suit filed by a member of the club, Prince Jide Sikuade, against the club.
Others joined as co-defendants are the chairman of the club, Chief Femi Adeniji Williams; the secretary, Oluwole Iyamu; chairman of electoral subcommittee, Olumuyiwa Aduroja; secretary, electoral subcommittee, Lawrence Erahbor and Prince Ademola Dada.
In his averment, Prince Sikuade alleged that on 17 April, 2003, he was suspended as a member of the club but was pardoned and his suspension lifted on 4 September, 2006.
In the same vein, sometime in February 2007, Prince Ademola Dada was suspended but his suspension was lifted on 7 May, 2008. However, a week later, his pardon was revoked on the ground that the club’s constitution has no provision for pardon for members against who disciplinary action has been taken.
He averred further that because of the withdrawal of his pardon, Dada was disallowed from contesting for the post of vice chairman and therefore found it unconscionable to allow him to contest for the post of chairman, while he is disallowed from contesting for the post of vice chairman.
However, in his counter affidavit, Prince Ademola Dada averred that his own case is different from that of Prince Sikuade’s as the withdrawal of his letter of suspension was reported by both the chairman and the general secretary of the club in the annual general meeting of the club on 31 December 2007, the minutes and report of which were adopted and ratified in the half year general report of 30 June, 2008.
Prince Dada further averred that in furtherance of the withdrawal of the letter of suspension, there was no record of disciplinary action against him and has therefore indicated his interest to contest for the post of chairmanship of the club.
It was alleged that Prince Sikuade was suspended and was only recalled after complying with the conditions attached to his suspension by the club and therefore, he cannot contest for the office of vice chairman.
Prince Dada also contended that he is not the proper party to be joined in this suit because the plaintiff has not disclosed his interest to contest for the chairmanship post of the club to which he is also aspiring and therefore, the issues for determination and the reliefs being sought disclosed no reasonable cause of action against him.
Consequently, he is urging the court, in the interest of justice, to dismiss the suit as it is frivolous, vexatious and trouble shooting.
—Akin Kuponiyi