Date: 2017-01-17

The suit challenging the legitimacy of the leadership of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Union (IEDPU) by it members could not go on at the Federal High Court, Ilorin as the absence of the principal counsel for the first and second defendants, Barr. Abdulkadri Adelodun (SAN) stalled proceedings.

According to Barr. Abdulfatah Abdulkareem who represented Adelodun, a letter has been forwarded to the plaintiff counsel seeking the adjournment of the case.

Meanwhile, counsel for the plaintiff, Barr. Teju Adigun stressed that the matter is stated for motion, saying he was served the motion two days before the court date.

"Irrespective of the applications served two days ago, adjourning is inevitable," he said. Abdulkareem also prayed the court to grant adjournment pending the time all substantial applications are ready. In the ruling of Justice Afolayan, she however adjourned the case till 26th January for further mentioning and hearing.

Recall that the Abdulhamid Adi-led national executives of the IEDPU and the branch had been engaged in a protracted tussle over the status of the Ilorin branch that had defied intervention of prominent stakeholders in the emirate.

Adi had insisted that the Ilorin branch remained proscribed and called for its dissolution.

This was contained in a suit prepared by the plaintiff's counsel Barr. Teju Adigun, that sought a declaration that the activities and actions of the defendants in the name of IEDPU are misleading, deceptive, unlawful, illegal, null and void.

Other endorsements sought by the Ilorin branch include "a declaration that the defendants either by themselves or in concert with other persons are not duly registered as the incorporated trustees of the union. "An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from further acting as, and or in the name of the IEDPU.

"An order of injunction restraining the defendants from holding any conference, meeting or programme in the name of the IEDPU on 25/12/2016 or on any other day.

"An order for the defendants to accounts for the funds standing to the credit of the plaintiffs Account N0 4011000254 with Ilorin Microfinance bank Ltd. "An order for the defendants to account for the shareholding of the IEDPU in Ilorin microfinance bank ltd.

"An order for the defendants to account for and hand over management and control of Ilorin Model Nursery and Primary school at Oke-Foma, Pakata area, Ilorin back to the plaintiffs.

"An order for the defendants to account for all properties (sic) and assets held or controlled by them in the name of IEDPU. Joined in the suite were Prof. Hamzat Ishola AbdulKareem and "other persons unknown". The suite will come up at the Ilorin Federal High Court on Thursday.

In a 21-page Writ of Summons numbered FHC/IL/CS/55/2016, that contained 35 statement of claims, the plaintiffs said the defendants and some other unknown persons have been carrying out various activities and operations under the name of the union without the knowledge, consent or authorisation of the plaintiffs an without due registration by the C.A.C.

It further added that the plaintiff states that the defendants have been falsely holding themselves out to the unsuspecting public as officers and representatives of the union and there by profiting from the goodwill of the union within Ilorin Emirate and beyond, among others.