IPMAN commends Supreme Court judgment affirming Okoronkwo as National President

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria on Sunday commended the Supreme Court judgment which declared Chinedu Okoronkwo as the substantive National President of the association.
IPMAN National Secretary, Danladi Passali, said that the judgment was a welcome development to its members as well as the oil and gas industry nationwide.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Supreme Court had on December 14, struck out the suit by Lawson Obasi challenging the election of Okoronkwo as National President of IPMAN.
The court, in its judgment on the IPMAN four-year leadership tussle, affirmed Okoronkwo as the substantive National President of the association.
He said: “The judgment will enable us maintain the serenity we normally enjoy 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’s driver seat, members will get their allocations accordingly.
“The NEC has reached an agreement with other marketers for better synergy in meeting product availability in the country since DAPPMA has better strength in storage.
“IPMAN, which controls 80 per cent outlets, has the better trend in distributing and dispensing in both urban and hinterland in the country.”
The statement also quoted Okoronkwo as saying that the Supreme Court judgment was a reaffirmation of the judiciary role of settling disputes honourably.
He saluted Supreme Court’s unanimous judgment that struck out the appeal of Chief Lawson Obasi.
He said: “This judgment is the first of its kind in pursuing IPMAN dispute up to the Supreme Court in Nigeria.
“It is not news that IPMAN was embroiled with leadership legal tussle since Jan. 20, 2014 which has ended with the Supreme Court judgment.”
He said that judgment had brought to an end all IPMAN legal matters while the association as a family has become stronger.
The IPMAN national president said that the association leadership would promote and protect the overall interest of member companies and individual ventures as a body.
He said that the association would ensure strict adherence by members to the rules and ethics of the trade as stipulated by the Federal Government.
Members of IPMAN NEC recognised by the Supreme Court judgment included Chinedu Okoronkwo, President, Abubakar Maigani Shettima, Vice President, Danladi Passali, Secretary, Bola Adeleke, Treasurer.
Others are: Leo Nkameme, Organisation Secretary, Yakubu Ali Dimka, Auditor, J. D. Ubani, Financial Secretary, Hammed Adekunle Fashil, Assistant Secretary, Umar Baba Kano, Legal Adviser, Ezekwesili Maduagwuna, Chief Whip and Yakubu Suleman, PRO.