Court stops Emeka Offor from selling firm belonging to Chukwureh, children

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday granted an order of interim injunction restraining the Inspector General of Police and Emeka Chuka Offor from alienating, disposing, dissipating any tangible and intangible property belonging to the Centre Point Network Limited (the plaintiff) offices including No1, Tigris Close, Opposite Shell Estate, off Medeira Street, Maitama, Abuja.

The court further restrained the IGP and Emeka Offor from further interfering or taking over the management, affairs and operations of the Centre Point Network pending determination of the applicant’s motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
The Centre Point Network belongs to Joy Chukwureh and her children.

Justice Hadiza Shagari also restrained the FCT Police Command and all other officers and men under the IGP’s control and their agents from dissipating the property, pending the determination of the applicant’s motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

Centre Point Network Limited (the plaintiff) had dragged the IGP, Emeka Offor and the Corporate Affairs Commission before the court, asking it to declare that the IGP and officer and men under his command has no right without an order of court to act or take any steps whatsoever at the instance of Emeka Offor and his agents to takeover or assist Offor in taking over the affairs and assets of Centre Point Network.

Specifically, the plaintiff sought the court for an order declaring that Offor, not being a director or shareholder of the plaintiff, has no right to interfere and/or take over the day to day management, operations, sell, alienate, transfer or dispose the plaintiff’s properties whether tangible or intangible.

Besides, the plaintiff asked the court for an order declaring that the sealing and/or planned sealing of Centre Point Network by Offor whether by himself or his agents and aided by the officers of the IGP without a court order is illegal, reprehensible and malicious.

The plaintiff is also seeking for the following prayers:
* An order restraining Offor not being a director or shareholder of the Centre Point Network from interfering in the management, operations and assets of the plaintiff whether tangible or intangible.

• An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants whether by themselves and their agents from interfering with the affairs, operations and properties of the plaintiff.

• An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants and their agents from selling, alienating, transferring or disposing Centre Point Network’s properties whether tangible or intangible.

• An order directing the IGP to provide police security to the Directors and premises of Centre Point Network to ensure unfettered access to their facilities and properties of the plaintiff and to protect lives of its workers.

*An order directing the IGP to prevent Offor and his agents from interfering in the management, operations and assets of the plaintiff whether tangible or intangible.

• An order restraining the CAC from giving effect to any resolution or action taken or filed at the instance of Offor or his agents to alter the structure of the company or documents in the Companies file without independently confirming that such a resolution was authorized by the directors of the company.

The plaintiff also asked the court to determine whether having regards to Section 4 of the Police Act, the IGP and Police officers and men under his control can be engaged or utilised by Offor for the purpose of intimidating and harassing the Plaintiff and its directors or shutting down the office and assets of the Plaintiff?

Whether having regard to Section 37, 63, 244 and 279 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (LFN 2004), Offor not being a director of the Plaintiff has no right to interfere in, take over the affairs of day to day management, operations, sell or alienate Plaintiff’s assets?

Meanwhile, Justice Shagari has adjourned the matter to January 19, for hearing and for notice to be served on all the defendants.

Peter Fowoyo, Lagos