Justice A M Liman of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has granted an order restraining Wale Adenuga Production Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Wale Adenuga from producing or publishing a television series, the Village Headmaster pending the hearing of an interlocutory Injunction filed before the court.
The plaintiff, Olujimi Olusola, suing as executor and beneficiary of the estate of Ambassador Olusegun Olusola had in suit number FHC/L/CS/117/2021 filed by his lawyer, professor, Bankole Sodipo against Wale Adenuga Production limited (1st defendant), Chief Wale Adenuga (2nd defendant) and the Nigeria Television Authority (3rd defendant) respectfully.
Justice Liman directed the defendants within 24-hours of being served with the order of court, to deliver to the custody of the court or the plaintiff’s counsel all documents, invoices, relating to production, distribution, importation or broadcasting to the public the Village Headmaster without the permission of the plaintiff.
The court also ordered the defendants to disclose to the bailiff of the court who shall serve the order upon them the names addresses of all persons, companies responsible for supplying any merchandise product of the characters in the Village Headmaster
The court also directed the defendants to disclose the date and quantities of such supply as well as the names and addresses of all the persons, firm and companies who are parties or associated with the defendants in relation with Village headmaster series.
Also, the court granted an order permitting the plaintiff or his counsel, court bailiff and police officers accompanying them to break open the defendant’s premises or any other premises of any member of the class of defendants situated at 20 Olutosin Ajayi Street off airport road , Isolo Lagos and for the 3rs defendant (NTA) which is situated at Television House , off Obafemi Awolowo street FDCA Road Garki Area II Abuja where anything relating to unauthorized the Village Headmaster is being kept.
Justice Liman further restrained the defendants from merchandising the Village Headmaster or the characters therein in any format whatsoever without plaintiff’s permission pending the determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction filed before the court.
The court also granted an Anton Piller order permitting the bailiff of the court and the plaintiff’s solicitors and their representatives to carry out search, inspection; copying, photographing or removing into the court premises any document relating to the Village Headmaster.
An Anton Piller order is a court order, which requires the defendant in proceedings to permit the plaintiff or his or her legal representatives to enter the defendant’s premises in order to obtain evidence essential to the plaintiff’s case.
The court further ordered for police protection for the bailiff of the court in the execution of the order of the court.
However, Justice Liman ordered the plaintiff to file an undertaking to indemnify the defendants should it turn out that these orders ought not to have been granted.
Justice Liman also granted the defendants the liberty to apply to the court to vary or discharge the orders upon giving 48-hour notice to the Plaintiff’s counsel or his intention to do.
The matter has been adjourned till March 11, 2021 for hearing of the Interlocutory Injunction
