The Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed the 30th of May to deliver a ruling on the contempt proceedings initiated against the Managing Director, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria FAAN, Mr. George Uresi.
Justice Binta Nyako adjourned for ruling after hearing parties in the matter on two separate applications – the contempt application and the defendant’s preliminary objection to the application.
The contempt proceedings were initiated by an aviation services firm, Maevis Limited, against the MD of FAAN, Uresi on the basis of an alleged disobedience of an order of the court by FAAN under his authority.
Maevis Limited had a contract with the FAAN for provision of the Airport Operations Management System platform in four international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.
Arguing the contempt application, Counsel to Maevis, Prof Yemi Osinbajo said, “The plaintiff has exhibited ample evidence showing why an order of committal to prison should be made against Mr. George Uresi.”
He described as incredible, a situation where a federal agency disobeyed an order of the court delivered in December 2010 and “reiterated again in May 19, 2011.
However, Uresi’s counsel, Mr. Kola Awodein in his preliminary objection among other grounds, urged the court to decline jurisdiction because the records of proceedings of the court did not reflect the delivery of the order allegedly disobeyed by his client and that the records did not also reflect that the order was reiterated by the judge.
Following the argument from both parties, Justice Nyako adjourned for ruling.