LEGAL BATTLE BETWEEN MAEVIS AND FAAN ON REVENUE COLLECTION

*Court Adjourned Hearing to Nov.,1^st 2010

By Lateef Lawal

The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday adjourned the legal battle between Maevis Nigeria Limited and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) to November, 1^st 2010.

Maevis, one of the concessionaires of the Authority  had sued FAAN challenging the alleged plan of the defendant to cede part of its revenue generating sources to another company against the tenets of the agreement between the two parties which grant exclusivity to Maevis to collect all revenues for FAAN..

When the case came up for hearing before the Honourable Justice J. Nyako, there were fire works between the lawyers of the plaintiffs and the defendants when the lead counsel of Maevis, Dr Abiodun Layonu(SAN) pleaded for the committance of FAAN for contempt of court over the closure of its premises in Abuja by the agents of the Authority despite the earlier court order asking both parties to maintain the status-quo.

The lead counsel to FAAN,Mr Obi Okwusogu(SAN) countered by ,saying that the Authority was not a party to the alleged action and that when information got to FAAN of the said action by some people, the management immediately ordered its officials to ensure that there was no disruption of activities in the Abuja office and peace was restored. On this premise, Okwusogu told the court that FAAN was not liable for contempt of court as pleaded by the plaintiff’s lawyer and Justice Nyako consequently dismissed the plaintiff’s contempt plea.

However, proceedings on the main issues before the court could not be taken due to technicalities discovered on the fillings before the court by the plaintiff and due the urgency of the matter before the court the lead counsel to Maevis pleaded with the court for more time to enable his client file the necessary papers to support its case against FAAN. It was on this basis that Justice Nyako adjourned the suit to next  week Monday (November,1^st 2010).

Before yesterday’s adjournment, there was a mild drama in the court room when  members of the National Union of Air Transport Employees(NUATE) led by its First Vice-President, Comrade Aturu and those of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria(ATSSSAN) led by Comrade Philip Emeto and FAAN Pensioners Association led by Comrade Ope Rasaki besieged the venue with several of their members carrying placards bearing various inscriptions asking the court to ensure that justice was on the side of FAAN.

The scene was however not acceptable to the court and Justice Nyako ordered that all the placards should be folded while those who have no place to seat in the courtroom should vacate the premises and the workers consequently left the room to take refuge under the shade outside the court room till 3.15pm when the case was adjourned.

Present at the court yesterday were the Director of Administration of FAAN, Mr Niyi Ajakaye, the Director of Environment,Architect Mohammed Bello and the General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Akin Olukunle.