The Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday vacated an interim order which restrained the premiere and release of a Nollywood movie “Okafor’s Law”, produced Omoni Oboli.
Justice Ibrahim Buba had on March 24 granted an interim order stopping the movie’s premiere at the IMAX Cinema in Lagos.
The judge issued the order following an exparte motion filed by a company, Raconteur Production Ltd, on behalf of a Canada based script writer, Mr Jude Idada.
It sued Dioni Visions Entertainment Ltd, Omoni Oboli, and The Filmone Ltd.
However, counsel for the first and second defendants, former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president Augustine Alegeh (SAN) urged the court to vacate the orders.
Justice Buba granted the prayer, paving the way for the film’s showing henceforth.
He held: “Suffice to say that surely what is exhibited by the plaintiff is a script “The Bet” and not “Okafor’s Law’’ and so this court has no doubt that the plaintiff/applicant cannot sustain this application.
“Even though the applicant moved the court to granting an order exparte, thank God the side of the defendant is heard.
“I do not think that on the face of the counter affidavit, this court will exercise its discretion both judicially and judiciously in granting the motion for interlocutory injunction.
“This court is unable to grant the interlocutory orders sought by the applicant; the prayer is hereby refused and the interim orders made on the 24th day of March are accordingly vacated.”
The court, however, held that monetary compensation would be adequate for the plaintiff if judgement is entered in its favour at the end of the case.
