…As Court Awards N2 Milion Fine Against Lawson Obasi.
Members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has commanded a recent Supreme Court judgment in Abuja, which declared Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo as the national president of the association.
The marketers gave the commendation in a statement issued by their National Secretary, Alhaji Danladi Passali, after the National Executive Meeting (NEC) over the pronouncement of the Supreme Court judgment that validated Okoronkwo as the substantive National president of IPMAN.
Pasali stated that the new development would address the issues of misconduct and mismanagement, which they say, is currently rocking the association.
It would be recalled that Okoronkwo won at the High Court, Appeal Court and Supreme Court judgment against Mr Lawson Obasi over the leadership tussles that lingered for over four years.
In a unanimous judgment from the supreme court that struck out the appeal of Chief Lawson Obasi in the suit, the court also fined two million against Obasi to be paid to Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo.
He said that Okoronkwo remains the substantive national president of IPMAN based on the Supreme Court judgment delivered on December 14, 2018.
According to him, the interest of all members of the association will be a top priority of the president.
The scribe said that the judgment was a welcome development to IPMAN members, and the oil and gas industry nationwide.
“The judgment will enable us maintain the serenity we normally enjoyed in the distribution and dispensing of petroleum products to Nigerians in all nooks and crannies of the country.
“Now that Okoronkwo is on the IPMAN association’s driver seat, members will get their allocation accordingly.
“The NEC has reached an agreement with oil marketers for better synergy in meeting product availability in the country since DAPPMA has better strength in storage.
“And IPMAN, which controlled 80 per cent outlets, has the better trend in distribution and dispensing in both urban and hinterland in the country,’’ Passali said.
Similarly, Okoronkwo at the world press conference held at the weekend, said that the Supreme Court ruling of December 14, 2018, is a reaffirmation of the Judiciary role of settling dispute without going to war or shedding innocent souls blood carelessly.
According to him, I salute the Judiciary on this note. This judgment is the first of its kind in pursuing IPMAN dispute up to the Supreme Court in Nigeria.
“I welcome everybody to today’s world press conference which is historical in the anal of IPMAN since 1978 when IPMAN was established by military decree.
“It is not news that IPMAN was embroiled with leadership legal tussle Since January 20th 2014 which has ended with Supreme Court Judgement affirming Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo as National President of IPMAN.
“Let me make it abundantly clear that the Supreme Court ruling of today has brought to an end all IPMAN legal matters.
“IPMAN, as a family has become stronger with a direction and solid foundation. The founding board of trustees members of IPMAN as registered with Corporate Affairs Commission in 1983 constitution has all passed away and one day, we at the leadership of IPMAN today will also bequeath IPMAN to our children yet unborn.
“That is the more reason we should drop our personal interest for better IPMAN and a virile association that will challenge the future threats to our businesses,’’ he said
The IPMAN helmsman said: “We have lost trillions of naira globally in our businesses while many of our members have lost their lives in the last five years because of lack of leadership in IPMAN to coordinate our business within the government circle, NNPC/PPMC, PEF, PPPRA and other stakeholders in the downstream sector.
He said that IPMAN is not represented when major policy decisions are being taken to move our businesses forward.
Okorokwo added the setback we have experienced for the last 5 years in IPMAN members businesses has become history today as IPMAN will henceforth be represented in all statutory board of Federal government agencies to protect her members interest.
“However, I will be eternally grateful our National Leader of IPMAN, Board of Trustees of IPMAN members who stood by us in our trying period.
“I promise to run a government where all IPMAN members nationwide will look as their shoulders and be proud of being a member of our great association.
“To our IPMAN members, the National, Zonal and the 21 NNPC/PPMC depots in Nigeria, I salute you all for standing firmly under serious economic challenges confronting our businesses, our families and uncountable losses we have suffered directly or indirectly in our trying period.
“Never in our lives will such ugly avoidable occurrences befall us again as we are now more matured. All members will get there right and benefits from all quarters with fairness and equity,’’ Okoronkwo added.
He assured that IPMAN leadership will promote and protect the overall interest of member companies of the association and individual ventures as a body.
He said that the association would ensure strict adherence by members of the association to the rules and ethics of the trade as stipulated by the Federal government authorities responsible for the oil industry in Nigeria and in accordance with regulations of the association.
The president lauded the association’s sister unions such as Nigeria union of petroleum and National Gas workers (NUPENG), Nigeria Association of Road Transport owners (NARTO), Petrol Tanker Drivers association of NUPENG (PTD), Major Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Depot and Petroleum products marketers Association (DAPPMA)and Petroleum and natural gas senior staff association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) for their supports.
He assured that IPMAN will work as a team with the above name sister associations and unions to move Nigeria forward so that all investors and the Federal government will get adequate return on their investments.
“The leadership of IPMAN hereby reiterates once again that the tripartite group of NARTO, IPMAN and PTD is alive. IPMAN which has been playing docile role in the past five years because of our unresolved Internal crisis is ready to come back to the tripartite fold and it is our hope that we will be welcome back to the house we built together at the birth of tripartite group.
He commended the President and Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, being the Minister of Petroleum Resources and our No. 1 boss in the oil Industry for supporting to bail out members from five years suffering will go into Guinness book of record.
He said that Dr, Maikanti Baru, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and his management team deserves medals for their understanding, tolerance during our trying period.
Our survival rested on your shoulder by allocating petroleum products directly to IPMAN without going through third party as it is now. Direct allocation to IPMAN member was one of your cardinal objectives when Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru came in as the new Group Managing Director of NNPC which was thwarted because of our internal legal drama.
“We appreciates the management of Petroleum Equalization Fund Management Board (PEF), Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency, (PPPRA), and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) with the hope of Joining the board that IPMAN is statutory member so as to work together for the interest of my members in IPMAN.
“The Minister of state for petroleum Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has displayed competence in the petroleum sector particularly with is undisputable oratory prowess. We thank you our Minister for your support at all time,’’ he said.
Members of IPMAN NEC recognised by the Supreme Court judgment include Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo, National President, Alhaji Abubakar Maigani Shettima, Vice President, Aihaji Danladi Passali, National Secretary, Bola Adeleke, National Treasurer, Chief Leo Nkameme, National Organisation Secretary.
Others are Alhaji Yakubu Ali Dimka, National Auditor, Chief J. D. Ubani (JP), National Financial Secretary, Dr. Hammed Adekunle Fashil, Assistant National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Baba Kano, National Legal Adviser, Chief Ezekwesili Maduagwuna, Chief Whip, Alhaji Yakubu Suleman, National PRO.
