Firm appeals court order on use of Honeywell as name

By INNOCENT ANABA
LAGOS— Honeywell Automation and Control Solution West Africa Limited, the Nigerian affiliate of Honeywell International Inc, has appealed against a Federal High Court, Lagos, order which restrained it from using Honeywell as part of its company name.

Justice Mohammed Liman of the lower court, had, in his ruling in a suit by Chief Obafemi Otudeko’s Honeywell Group Limited, restrained Honeywell Automation from using Honeywell as part of its name.

The lower court had earlier granted an ex-parte order in favour of Otudeko’s Honeywell, and later granted an interlocutory injunction against Honeywell Automation.

But, Honeywell Automation, in the appeal against the ruling, argued that Justice Liman erred in law by granting the reliefs sought by Honeywell Group in the substantive suit at the interlocutory stage, thereby denying the appellant (Honeywell Automation) fair hearing.

Honeywell Automation’s counsel, Mr. Yussuf Kadiri, argued in the appeal that Justice Liman erred in law when he held that the appellant was unable to show why the interlocutory injunction should not be made, adding that his client’s legal right could only be determined upon full trial, and not at the interlocutory stage.

The appellant is praying the appellate court to allow the appeal and set aside the ex-parte order and the interlocutory injunction made by the lower court in favour of Honeywell Group.