Crisis brews at Alaba International market over alleged fraud

Crisis is currently brewing at the Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos, following an alleged fraud in the recent chairmanship election conducted at the electrical section of the market. There are fears  in the market following  the result of the purported election which many traders alleged was hijacked and  conducted in a manner that was far from the constitutional requirements  of the  General Electrical Dealers Association, Alaba.

Aggrieved members of the association and a candidate, Joseph Emeziem, who contested election,  are currently taking steps to ensure that normalcy was restored and a new election conducted. Emeziem also has asked the Chief Magistrate Court, Badagry to stop the electoral committee of the General Electrical Dealers Association from recognizing or swearing   in Felis Nwagu as the Association’s chairman.

According to the legal action brought under sections 349(1), (2) and 35 of the Administration of Criminal Justice law of Lagos State, against Messrs Felis Nwagu,Chinedu Arinze,Obiora Olikagu and Nwune David Nweke filed by O.A Henry,  the claimant told the court that the purported kangaroo election conducted by the defendants and said to have been won  by Nwagu was contrary to the proviso of the association’s constitution, and undemocratic.

Emeziem, contended that the said choice of chairman elect, Nwagu,via election that is unacceptable if sworn in as threatened by the defendants, would portend chaos and breach of peace. Contending the position of chairman elect by general consensus of the forum members, Emeziem alerted the court of threats to his life  by the defendants.  “l strongly believe that the defendants and their agents have the capability to carry out the threat to eliminate me and other aggrieved members of our association unless this honourable court restrains them, ”Emeziem said.

Emeziem prayed the court for an order of injunction restraining the electoral committee under the auspices of the association from recognising or swearing-in Nwagu as the association’s chairman.  He further urged the court for an order to restrain the purported chairman elect, Nwagu from parading himself as a chairman of the association.

Joining Arinze ,Olikagu and Nweke ,he asked the court to stop them from parading or super imposing their chairmanship candidate on him or other aggrieved members of the General Electrical Dealers Association, Alaba International Market, Lagos.

As at press time, the defendants were said to have been served with the court processes but no appearance has been entered on their behalf.     In his affidafit of urgency,the complainant deposed to an oath attaching documents marked as exhibits, where he posited among other things that he paid the sum of N150,000.00 for the electoral forms and was duly qualified to stand for the Association’s election.