NPA’s board vs Asu Beks: Court hearing for July 5

Justice Tijjani Ringim of Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos has fixed Monday, July 5, for hearing of a suit filed by maritime stakeholder, Asu Beks, against the board of the Nigerian Ports Authority and its executive directors.

Justice Ringim fixed Monday to enable all parties in the suit prepare their processes for argument.

Beks and two other plaintiffs, Mr Tompra Abarowei and Mr Miebi Senge, had on Thursday, March 25, filed the suit challenging the powers of President Muhammadu Buhari as 1st defendant in the suit, to lawfully constitute the board of the NPA.

The plaintiffs also challenged the appointment of the executive directors of the agency without recourse to the statutory provisions of the NPA Act.

Beks also joined the embattled Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza  Usman, in the suit, saying Buhari prematurely reappointed her six months before her tenure expiration.

Beks filed the application through his counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome’s chambers.

The plaintiffs, in the suit with number FHC/L/CS/485/2021, held that the newly constituted board of NPA had no representative of the Ministry of Transportation as enshrined in the statute of the NPA Act. They added that it reflected complete disregard for professionalism and requisite expertise in shipping and ancillary maritime matters for its members.

Apart from President Buhari, other defendants in the suit are the Minister of Transportation, the NPA MD, Ms Usman, and the Chairman, Board of NPA, Mr Emmanuel Adesoye.

Anozie Egole
Anozie Egole
Anozie Egole is a Transport correspondent. He reports Maritime, Aviation and Rail/Road Transport for Financial Street.

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