BY Mansur Ibrahim
A federal high court sitting in Lagos has sacked the Ibinabo Fiberisima-led executive of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN).
Justice James Tsoho, the trial judge, declared the election that brought Ibinabo-led AGN executive into office as null and void, and of no effect whatsoever.
The court held that the election was conducted against a clear order of court that parties should maintain status quo, and ruled that the Incorporated Trustees of AGN acted with utter impunity in disobeying the clear order of court.
“It is not in doubt that the parties in this suit are entertainers but the business of court is a serious one and it cannot be turned into a legal play and for this reason, the election is hereby declared null and void,” Tsoho said.
He further ordered Ibinabo to henceforth stop parading herself as the AGN president, the same applying to other national officers who emerged from the said election.
He ordered Ibinabo and all the national officers of her executive to render full accounts of monies generated by the AGN under her, including details of income and expenditure.
The judge specifically ordered that a comprehensive audit of the accounts of AGN should be conducted within 90 days of the date of delivery of the judgment.
The suit that brought about the judgment was filed by an actor, St. Maradona Mikevine.
Mikevine, who was national treasurer during the presidential tenure of Emeka Ike, filed the suit to contest Ibinabo’s election as AGN president.
Through his lawyer, Malcom Omirhobo, Mikevine contended that the election was conducted in contravention of a subsisting court order compelling the maintenance of status quo.
The suit that brought about the initial order was filed by Emeka Ike, while the order which ordered parties to maintain status quo was made on October 26, 2011.
Emeka Ike had filed the suit to contest the formation of an illegal government coined as “National Unity” to run the affairs of the AGN.
The actor sought an order of court reviewing the 2007 Constitution of the guild, as it relates to the tenure of members of board of trustees.
He averred that the board, comprising Segun Arinze, Ifeanyi Dike, Emmanuel Oguguah, Murphy Stephen, Sunny McDon and Okey McAnthony, have remained in office since July 13, 1999 when the guild was incorporated.
He therefore sought an order setting aside the appointment of Arinze as president of the guild, and another reviewing the provisions of the guild’s constitution.
Arinze, who was appointed as president of the national unity of AGN, handed over to Ibinabo after the conduct of the disputed election.
Lawyer to the defendants, Nnaemeka Amaechina said that he would appeal the decision and that he was ready to fight till the end within the ambit of law.
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