IPMAN DRAMA IN SENATE: OBASI SAYS HE WAS DECLARED PRESIDENT BY RULE OF LAW.
Chief Obasi Lawson through his chief of Staff Chief Ukadike Chinedu has explained how he was declared President of The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) by a ruling of The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt presided by Justice Akanbi in March 2014.
Nassnews recall that there was a mild drama which almost cause a rowdy session in a public Hearing held in room 022 of the Senate wing on Thursday, as three persons introduced themselves as president of the Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN).
The first person to introduce himself was Obasi Lawson, before Sanusi Fari and Okoronko Chinedu, also followed suit.
“I am Okoronko Chinedu, elected IPMAN Chairman affirmed by the Appeal Court two week ago,” Mr. Okoronkwo said. Almost immediately, Fari rose up to introduce himself also as IPMAN president. The Senate hearing became rowdy a the three IPMAN factional presidents struggled to take the floor.
The Senate committee headed By Senator Kabiru Marafa was ordered to cut short its Christmas and New Year recess and invite the Group Managing Director NNPC, Minister of Petroleum Resources and Major Marketers to explain what was responsible for the return of fuel queues across the country during the 2017 Yuletide period.
Marafa called on the permanent secretary of IPMAN to meet with the three to have a common ground for presentation to the hearing.
Chief Obasi Lawson said the Judgement of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt was against Alhaji Aminu Kadiri who was the former President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN) which Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo was a Vice President. Their entire administration executives were sacked and immediately after the judgement, Chief Obasi Lawson was sworn in as the new president of the Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN). Since then IPMAN haven’t gotten any Peace, the sacked executives went to appeal in court, Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo conduct a kangaroo election while the case was pending in the court of appeal. He also went to Federal High Court Abuja to obtain a judgement claiming that he was the elected president of IPMAN.
NATO and NUPENG gave Federal Government an autimatum to settle IPMAN matter with a threat to go on strike if the crisis persist. A reconciliation meeting was conducted in the interest of peace with a fresh election yet Obasi Lawson remained the President while Aminu Kadiri became the board Chairman inherent in Port Harcourt. Elder Okoronkwo Chinedu still went ahead with the case he presented at the High Court Abuja as the Port Harcourt judgement still holds and a judgement was delivered in his favour at the High Court Abuja. Haven seen the danger ahead, we challenged the judgement at the Supreme Court. When a case is in court you wait till final decision of judge and not to be parading yourself as the president of IPMAN, Obasi said.
The Dss is on top of the matter. We have been told to conduct a fresh election which we on our own side have agreed but Elder Okoronkwo Chinedu still have not agreed to this great idea that can bring Peace. So I can say Okoronkwo Chinedu is not in the interest of the Independent Marketers.