Supreme Court Judgment enables IPMAN synergise with oil marketers for better service delivery
Peace may have finally returned to the embattled the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) as the Supreme Court gave judgement in favour Chinedu Okoronkwo and validate him as the substantive National president of IPMAN.
The judgment will enable the association to maintain the serenity it normally enjoyed in the distribution and dispensing of petroleum products to Nigerians in all nooks and crannies of the country.
Consequence upon this the executives of the association has entered into an agreement with oil marketers for better synergy in meeting product availability in the country since DAPPMA has better strength in storage.
IPMAN controls 80 per cent of the retail outlets and has the better trend in distribution and dispensing of petroleum products in both urban and hinterland in the country.
Reviewing the judgement after the national executive meeting (NEC) of the association ,Danladi Passali who is the National Secretary of IPMAN commended the supreme Court for its verdict and stated that this new development would address the issues of misconduct and mismanagement which is currently plaquing the association.
He said that Okoronkwo remains the substantive national president of IPMAN based on the Supreme Court judgment delivered on December 14, 2018.
According to him, the interest of all members of the association will be a top priority of the president.
The scribe said that the judgment was a welcome development to IPMAN members, and the oil and gas industry nationwide.
“Now that Okoronkwo is on the IPMAN association’s driver seat, members will get their allocation accordingly.
It would be recalled that Okoronkwo won at the High Court, Appeal Court and Supreme Court judgment against Lawson Obasi over the leadership tussles that lingered for over four years.
In a unanimous judgment from the supreme court that struck out the appeal of Chief Lawson Obasi in the suit, the court also fined two million against Obasi to be paid to Chinedu Okoronkwo
Chinedu Okoronkwo while commenting on the ruling, said that the Supreme Court ruling of December 14, 2018, is a reaffirmation of the Judiciary role of settling dispute without going to war or shedding innocent souls blood carelessly.
“I welcome everybody to today’s world press conference which is historical in the anal of IPMAN since 1978 when IPMAN was established by military decree.
“IPMAN, as a family has become stronger with a direction and solid foundation. The founding board of trustees members of IPMAN as registered with Corporate Affairs Commission in 1983 constitution has all passed away and one day, we at the leadership of IPMAN today will also bequeath IPMAN to our children yet unborn.
“That is the more reason we should drop our personal interest for better IPMAN and a virile association that will challenge the future threats to our businesses,’’ he said
The IPMAN helmsman said: “We have lost trillions of naira globally in our businesses while many of our members have lost their lives in the last five years because of lack of leadership in IPMAN to coordinate our business within the government circle, NNPC/PPMC, PEF, PPPRA and other stakeholders in the downstream sector.
He said that IPMAN is not represented when major policy decisions are being taken to move our businesses forward.
Olusola Bello