Justice A. Lifu of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Thursday, restrained Goff Ohen Limited from holding any board meeting of the Eko Hospital either by themselves agent or privies, pending the hearing and determination of a suit filed by one of the directors, Dr Sunday Folorunsho Kuku.
The order of the court was sequel to an interlocutory injunction brought before the court by Kuku as argued by his counsel, Mr Tobe Nnamani.
Joined as defendants in Kuku’s suit are Ekocorp Plc, Goff Ohen Limited, Dr. Goff Ohen, Prof Joseph. O Irukwu (SAN), Pastor Olurotimi Nathaniel, Mr Olusegun Olusanya, Dr. George Okpagu and Mrs Joyce Modilim.
Kuku is one of the founding owners of Eko Hospital and he is the sole surviving founding member and a director of the famous hospital.
While granting the order, Justice Lifu noted he was not unmindful of the running of the hospital’s affairs, which he said should go on during the pendency of the suit.
“I have perused the application for interlocutory injunction filed by the plaintiff in this case and the submissions of counsel to the applicant.
“In my humble view, the issue here is basically to preserve the res from being disipated so that the decision in this case will meet the purpose.
“Consequently, this application is hereby granted as prayed against the first and second defendants.
“I can observe that only the first and second defendants were duly served. Activities of the board are hereby suspended during the pendency of this case.
“The literal interpretation is that no meeting, no notice and gathering of board members in whatsoever capacity until this case is determined one way or the order.”
The judge directed Kuku to give an undertaking as to damages, “should it turn out that this order ought not to have been made.”
While adjourning the matter till December 6, 2021, the court ordered that the case would be given an accelerated hearing.
Earlier, counsel to 2nd and 3rd Defendants, Mr Andrew Igboekwe (SAN), informed the court of a motion challenging the court from entertaining the suit on the ground of lack of jurisdiction.
But Justice Lifu described the motion as an attempt to arrest the ruling, having been filed after the case had been adjourned for ruling.
