The Lagos State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has lodged a petition with the Commissioner of Police in the state.
The SWAN chapter also sent copies of the petition to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the state’s House of Assembly (LAHA).
Bunmi Ogunyale, the chapter’s Secretary, disclosed in a statement that the petition was over alleged intimidation by a group who claimed to be “Caretaker Committee”.
“This group has been parading itself as caretaker committee of the Lagos chapter of the association in spite of an existing court order,” he said.
Ogunyale said the petition became more imperative following plans by the group to hold what he described as a “kangaroo election on Tuesday.
”This is in furtherance of their contempt of court and total disrespect for court order.”
He stated that any support from the Police or any other security agency for this group, by providing personnel for such an illegal and unlawful gathering, would be “a clear breach of subsisting order of the court.
”It will tantamount to contempt of the court,” Ogunyale said on behalf of Lagos State SWAN.
He pointed out that a petition had earlier been written on behalf of Lagos Chapter of SWAN by Salami T. Agbaje ESQ.
“This latest attempt by this group is a blatant disobedience of a binding mandatory order barring disputing parties from taking any step in the subject matter until Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, and it was delivered on July 27.
“This was sequel to suit number NICN/LA/165/2022 filed by Lagos SWAN pending before the Administrative Judge of National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Lagos Division, Honourable Justice M. N. Esowe.
”It is between Adebowale Olajire Oshundun and others against Aaron Akerejola, Olatutu Oladunni, Oluwole Alakija and others.
“The petition was copied to the Director, DSS, Lagos State Command, Honourable Justice M.N Esowe, National Industrial Court, Ikoyi; Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Alusa.
“Also copied were the Assistant Inspector General, Zone 2, Onikan and the Nigerian Union of Journalists.”
Ogunyale added that Lagos SWAN has that the self-styled Caretaker Committee has continued to intimidate law-abiding members of the Association with the help of the police.
The chapter alleged that the Police in Lagos state “have been giving cover to the group following the invasion and forceful take-over of the chapter’s secretariat” situated inside the National Stadium in Lagos on Feb. 11.
The petition then urged the Lagos State Police Command to refuse any invitation to provide personnel to aid the group to conduct what it described as unlawful and illegal elections.
”Such will be a brazen assault on the rule of law.”