By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Justice Ambrose Allagoa has fixed December 1, 2021, for the ruling on the application filed by the Managing Director of Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), Mr Mathieu Seguin, seeking to dismiss the contempt suit instituted by Rite Foods Limited.
Rite Foods had asked the court to punish Mr Seguin for disobeying the order of the court but the NBC managing director wants the suit thrown out, claiming that the interim order has been discharged.
At the hearing of the matter on Monday, November 15, 2021, counsels to Mr Seguin argued that the contempt proceedings should stop because the interim order of February 9, 2021, against the NBC had been discharged by Justice Aneke.
They claimed their clients cannot be held in contempt because there was an application challenging the order when it was in force, adding that their client did not have to obey the order when they were challenging it.
In response, counsels to Rite Foods relied on a Court of Appeal decision to stress that contempt proceedings should continue even though the order had been discharged.
They further informed the judge that the court still has the power to punish NBC and its Managing Director for contempt for disobeying the order before it was discharged.
After hearing from both parties, the judge said he would rule on the matter at the next adjourned date, December 1.
