Mr Nurudeen Aina, Ex-Chairman of the Incorporated Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (AMORAN), Ogun State, has challenged his nullification as chairman before the National Industrial Court in Ibadan.
Aina, who approached the court for nullification of the inauguration of the association’s current chairman, Mr Taofeek Sokoya, urged it to declare him the lawful leader of the association.
The applicant’s suit is on the ground that his tenure is for three years, which ordinarily should expire in September 2026.
He said that no vacancy existed yet for the office of the chairman.
Other respondents in the suit marked NICN/IB/07/2025 are the incorporated trustees of Ogun State AMORAN, the Governor of Ogun State, Ogun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and the state Commissioner for Transport.
The claimant in the Originating Summons filed by his counsel, Mr Bamidele Ogundele, prayed the court to declare that Sokoya was not eligible to be sworn in as Acting Chairman on the basis of the applicant being on leave of absence for four months.
It reads: “That the applicant has not relinquished his position as the chairman, but only went on four months leave of absence running from Aug. 5, 2024 to Dec. 4, 2024.
“That his return from leave on Dec. 4, 2024, as chairman, was still within his second term as lawfully elected chairman of the association.”
He wants the court to nullify the swearing of Chief Taofeek Sokoya as chairman, insisting that the office was not vacant and that Sokoya did not hold any executive office before his swearing in as the chairman.
His Originating summons was brought pursuant to Order 3 Rule 3 of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Civil Procedure Rules, 2017 and section 254(C) of the of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
And also Section 9(C), 10,11,14(1)&(2) of the Constitution of the incorporated Trustees of Articulate Trust Motorcycle Owners & Riders Association (AMORAN).
Aina is praying the court for an order declaring that there is no vacancy in the office of the applicant to warrant Sokoya being sworn in by virtue of provision of Section 16(a)&(b) of the 1st respondent’s constitution.
He is also therefore praying for an order of the court to restrain Sokoya from parading himself as the chairman of the association.
“An order of the court mandating the 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents as regulatory authorities to recognise the applicant as the legal and lawful chairman of the first respondent.
He further stated that Sokoya did not occupy any executive position/offices listed in Section 9(a)&(b) of the Constitution of the 1st respondent.
“That upon the expiration of the leave of absence, the applicant automatically revert to the position of chairman of the respondent, while the acting chairman reverts back to the position of vice chairman.
He prayed the court to restrain the fifth respondent from parading himself as the chairman of the first respondent.
The case is yet to be assigned to a judge. (NAN)
