Shipping Charges: Legal Fire Works Shift to Appeal Court as Judge dismisses Application for Stay of Execution
The
Ikoyi Federal High Court Thursday dismissed the application for stay of
execution filed by the Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) on the
judgment by the court that the association had no right to increase port
charges.
Ikoyi Federal High Court Thursday dismissed the application for stay of
execution filed by the Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) on the
judgment by the court that the association had no right to increase port
charges.
It would be recalled
that the terminal operators had applied for stay of execution after the
judgment and had also gone to the Court of Appeal.
that the terminal operators had applied for stay of execution after the
judgment and had also gone to the Court of Appeal.
On the other hand, the
Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) had equally in an application asked the court
to compel the association to comply with the first judgment.
Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) had equally in an application asked the court
to compel the association to comply with the first judgment.
NSC wants the court to
direct the terminal operators to refund the sum of N150 billion allegedly
collected in disobedience of the judgment.
direct the terminal operators to refund the sum of N150 billion allegedly
collected in disobedience of the judgment.
Mr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN,
lead counsel to the NSC had argued that the fact that the terminal operators
applied for stay of execution and went to the Court of Appeal, was not enough
to stop them from obeying the earlier judgment.
lead counsel to the NSC had argued that the fact that the terminal operators
applied for stay of execution and went to the Court of Appeal, was not enough
to stop them from obeying the earlier judgment.
He argued that the
terminal operators should comply with the judgment pending the determination of
the application for stay of execution.
terminal operators should comply with the judgment pending the determination of
the application for stay of execution.
But STOAN’s counsel, Mr
Dayoola Johnson, had drawn the attention of the court that there was a record
of appeal before the court quashing the jurisdiction of the court to continue
hearing the case.
Dayoola Johnson, had drawn the attention of the court that there was a record
of appeal before the court quashing the jurisdiction of the court to continue
hearing the case.
In dismissing the
application from the association, Justice Ibrahim Buba, said that there was no
evidence to show that the judgment given earlier by the court was executed.
application from the association, Justice Ibrahim Buba, said that there was no
evidence to show that the judgment given earlier by the court was executed.
He granted the
interlocutory application filed by NSC, compelling STOAN to comply with the
judgment earlier given.
interlocutory application filed by NSC, compelling STOAN to comply with the
judgment earlier given.
He explained that
interlocutory injunction was meant to protect legal rights.
interlocutory injunction was meant to protect legal rights.
Buba said that the
affidavit of records which was filed by STOAN, was filed on March 18, after the
court had adjourned to rule on the application for stay of execution.
affidavit of records which was filed by STOAN, was filed on March 18, after the
court had adjourned to rule on the application for stay of execution.
He ruled that all
pending application should go to the Court of Appeal.
pending application should go to the Court of Appeal.
The Counsel to the
terminal operators, Mr Femi Atoyebi and the Shipping Companies had on the last
adjourned date notified the court that they had entered an appeal at the Court
of Appeal quashing the rights of the court to hear the matter.
terminal operators, Mr Femi Atoyebi and the Shipping Companies had on the last
adjourned date notified the court that they had entered an appeal at the Court
of Appeal quashing the rights of the court to hear the matter.
But Buba, had, however,
ruled that there was no record or evidence of transmission of appeal before the
court.
ruled that there was no record or evidence of transmission of appeal before the
court.
Buba, had adjourned to
rule on the stay of execution earlier filed by STOAN.
rule on the stay of execution earlier filed by STOAN.
On the case of stay of
execution filed by shipping companies, the court on the last adjournment ruled
that the notice of appeal was duly filed and there were records before the
court that appeal has been entered at the Appeal Court.
execution filed by shipping companies, the court on the last adjournment ruled
that the notice of appeal was duly filed and there were records before the
court that appeal has been entered at the Appeal Court.
Buba, therefore, stayed
further proceedings on the matter pending the determination of the application
before the Appeal court.
further proceedings on the matter pending the determination of the application
before the Appeal court.
The court had on Dec. 17, 2014 stopped the collection of some charges
by the terminal operators and shipping companies.
by the terminal operators and shipping companies.
The court had also ordered the shipping companies to refund the amount
collected since 2006 from the importers.
The court also affirmed
the appointment of the NSC as the Economic Regulator of the ports and ordered
that the shipping companies should account and pay to Nigerian shippers all
monies or fees charged and collected since 2006 as SLAC from shippers.
the appointment of the NSC as the Economic Regulator of the ports and ordered
that the shipping companies should account and pay to Nigerian shippers all
monies or fees charged and collected since 2006 as SLAC from shippers.
