Appeal Court affirms expulsion of Okereke from IMAN membership

Tayo Oladipupo

The Board of Trustees of Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) has said that the expulsion of Emmanuel Osita Okereke has been affirmed by Appeal Court sitting in Abuja in its recent ruling in February.

In a press statement signed by Chief Gilbert E Obi, Chairman BOT, of the association and made available to our correspondent, the group said it wished to inform the general public about the development.

The press release stated further that Okereke was expelled in 2015 over allegations of forgery and other criminal activities but added that he obtained a judgement in a High Court to upturn his expulsion, a judgement which was further contested by the association in Appeal Court and was confirmed that his expulsion stands.

According to the judgement as stated by Ini, Okereke ceased to be a member of the BOT of the association as well as member of the National Task Force (NATFORCE).

“The Board of Trustees of Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) wish to inform the general public that Chief Emmanuel Osita Okereke who was expelled from IMAN in December 2015 has further been confirmed by the Appeal Court Abuja Judicial Division.

“The Court of Appeal , Abuja Division delivered the landmark judgment to affirm that Emmanuel Osita Okereke was duly expelled from the Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) and National Task Force (NATFORCE) on 11th February 2019.

“It could be recalled that the Board of Trustees of the Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) had in December 2015 expelled Chief Emmanuel Osita Okereke from the association due to several illegal activities by him, including going to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to forge another certificate of IMAN without the IMAN Board of Trustees approval.

“Due to his conduct, which was regarded as a criminal offence and forgery and he refused to show any remorse for his fraudulent acts, the IMAN , BOT had to expel him in 2015.

“Chief Emmanuel Okereke with his criminal intent however took the association to the Abuja High Court and obtained a kangaroo judgement in his favour on January 23rd 2017.

“On our part, the Board of Trustees of IMAN feeling dissatisfied with the High Court judgement appealed the case at the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja.

“The IMAN BOT filed an appeal against the decision of the Abuja High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Suit No: FCT/HC/CV/710/2016, between the registered Trustees of Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN), Chief Gilbert Bravo Obi, Chief Obong Patrick Udoh, Alhaji ( Dr) Bature Aldullaziz (MON) Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed Yar’dua and Hon. Kingsley Chikezie as appellants. While Chief Emmanuel Okereke was listed as the respondent.

“In the IMAN appeal at the Appeal Court, Abuja Division, the Court upheld and affirmed the expulsion of Chief Emmanuel Osita Okereke from IMAN and NATFORCE.

The judgement was delivered with a case number CA/A/177/2017 February 11th 2019.

“With this landmark judgement, Chief Emmanuel Osita Okereke stands expelled from IMAN and NATFORCE.”