MD, FAAN, George Uriesi
By Davidson Iriekpen
Virtually all the officials of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) including junior staff yesterday stormed the Federal High Court in Lagos to lead support to their Managing Director, Mr. George Uriesi, who appeared before Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako over allegations of contempt levelled against him.
The judge had on March 28, 2012 summonsed Uriesi and three other management staff members of the establishment sequel to the contempt proceedings filed against them for allegedly disobeying the court’s order made on September 24, 2010.
Maevis had brought the contempt charge against FAAN claiming that the agency flouted the court’s order.
When the case was called, lawyer to FAAN, Mr. Kola Awodein (SAN), denied that his client, Uriesi and others were ever in disobedience of court. He said “We were never in violation of any order. We will prove this when the time comes.”
Awodein also said the other alleged contemnors were not in court, not out of disobedience, but because they had left the service of FAAN and were probably not aware of the court’s processes.
However, the contempt proceedings itself which was scheduled to be heard yesterday could not go on as Awodein informed the court that he had filed two applications at the Court of Appeal which must be decided one way or the other before the proceedings before Nyako could continue.
This drew vehement opposition from the lawyer to Maevis Limited, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), who insisted that the contempt proceedings must be heard on the ground that the applications being claimed to have been filed at the Court of Appeal were not valid appeals but a mere ploy to frustrate the hearing of the contempt proceedings.
This resulted to argument for over two hours between the two opposing lawyers on whether or not the contempt proceedings should be heard in spite of the applications claimed to have been filed at the appellate court.
Awodein said, “We want the court to stay further proceedings pending the determination of our processes at the Court of Appeal. Whether the processes have merit or not, we have filed them and it is the Court of Appeal who would determine that.
“The High Court cannot undermine the Court of Appeal in exercise of its jurisdiction under the constitution nether can the Court of Appeal do so at the Supreme Court. Your Ladyship cannot hear the contempt proceedings now in the light of our processes at the appellate court.”
In opposition, Osinbajo said “This court does not have to stay proceedings. Their appeal has not been entered yet and when this is the case the Court of Appeal has no jurisdiction to entertain the matter. Their applications at the court of appeal have no merit; they just filed it to frustrate the hearing of the contempt proceedings which is what is scheduled to be heard today.”
The manner the lawyer throwing tantrums at each other, the judge who was apparently disgusted, said: The parties should learn to show good example to the upcoming generation. It is a pity. If you continue to handle this matter like this, I will adjourn the case sine die (indefinitely).
While refusing to rule on whether or not she would stay further hearing of the matter, the judge adjourned further hearing on the to April 23, 2012.
In the substantive suit, the plaintiff, Maevis, claimed that it is the concessionaire to FAAN on the provision of the Airport Operations Management System (AOMS) platform in four international
airports in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port-Harcourt.
The FAAN/ Maevis Airport Operations Management System (AOMS) project is alleged to comprise the acquisition, installation, operation and management of world class Integrated Airport Operations Database (AODB), Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE), Computer Based Departure Control System Platform, Common Use Self Service (CUSS) Kiosk, Check-in desk and a fully automated Airport Pricing and Billing System (PBS).
The plaintiff however claimed that FAAN had violated its right by" engaging in serious and egregious actions which undermined the authority of the court, culminating in the displacement of Maevis and its staff from their offices at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja”.
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