Court orders substituted service on Boat Club over ‘ wrongful’ expulsion

JUSTICE Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has granted Mr. Babajide Coker an order of substituted services in the suit he filed to challenge his expulsion/ suspension from the Lagos Motor Boat Club.

Justice Allagoa made the order following a motion filed and argued by his counsel, Kemi Pinheiro ( SAN).

Coker, the sole plaintiff/ applicant, commenced the suit, marked FHC/ L/ CS/ 578/ 2021, on March 16, 2021.

The 1st to 7th defendants/ respondents are the Registered Trustees of Lagos Motor Boat Club, Dr. Dapo Majekodunmi, Mr. Babajide Balogun, Babalola Alakolaro, Ladi Ani Mumuny, Prince Frances Awogboro and the Corporate Affairs Commission ( CAC).

At the commencement of proceedings on Friday, July 16, Mr. Pinheiro prayed the court to allow the applicant have an alternative way of serving the court processes on the defendants on the ground that they were evading service.

But counsel to the 6th defendant Eyimofe Atake ( SAN), opposed this application.

However, the judge adjourned till October 6 for hearing of all applications. Among others, the applicant is seeking a declarative relief for an order of mandatory injunction pending the determination of the June 15, 2021 Motion on Notice for orders of interlocutory injunction, commanding the 1st defendant/ respondent to reverse the resolutions and or decisions purportedly passed at the Annual General Meeting of the Club held on the June 17, 2021 “in contempt of the court and pending processes.”