A Federal High Court in Abuja has barred Seplat Energy Plc from having its annual general meeting (AGM) scheduled for May 10 until the substantive case is heard and decided.
In a judgement, Justice Inyang Ekwo urged the parties in the dispute not to tamper with the subject matter until the matters before the court were settled.
The decision was made at the hearing of a request on notice for interlocutory order filed by Kalu Onuoha, counsel for the plaintiff, seeking an injunction prohibiting the defendants in the claim from having the AGM.
After the court learned that some of the respondents had yet to be served in the matter, Onuoha made an oral application urging the court to caution them from taking any action until the matter was resolved.
“When parties have submitted to the court, they must hold themselves and refrain from doing anything that will affect the res (subject matter) until the issues are resolved.”
“Parties are hereby ordered not to tamper with the res until issues are resolved,” Justice Ekwo said in an April 28 judgement that was not seen until Wednesday.
As a result, the tribunal delayed the case until May 31 to allow respondents to show cause.
According to media sources, the plaintiffs, Boniface Okezie, Hon Bright Nwabuogu, John Isesele, Okonkwo Timothy, and Augustine Ezennachukwu, have filed a lawsuit against Seplat Energy Plc, Mr Roger Thompson Brown, Mr Basil Omiyi, Dr Charles Okeahialam, and others.
Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, Rabiu Bello, Mrs Bashirat Odenewu, Emma Fitzgerald, Mrs Edith Onwuchekwa, and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) are among the other first to tenth replies.
