OGUN NUJ CRISIS: Industrial Court Adjourns for Judgement

Ibadan: Sina ODUNTAN

Published, December 8, 2020.

NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL COURT OF NIGERIA has adjourned for judgement in a matter between Soji Amosu and three others versus Chris Isiguzo, President, Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ.

The presiding judge, Justice J. D. Peters, today in Ibadan after listening to the arguments of both counsel adjourned the matter, suit number NICN/IB/85/2019. till February 24, 2021 for judgement.

Earlier, the court on Wednesday, November 19, 2019, had granted an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st – 4th and 10th – 14th respondents, their privies, servants, agents and whosoever named from conducting any election in to the offices of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the NUJ Ogun State Council which is currently held by the 1st – 4th applicants following the election held on 29/4/19 pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice. 

In his argument on preliminary objection, the counsel, Mr. Baker, representing the National President, Chris Isiguzo and 21 others argued that the mere entering an "accord" with his clients nugate the right of the opposing parties to come back to the court for redress.

Mr.Bakre further adumbrated that the path of process that the applicants took was not in conformity with the judgement of Supreme Court cited by their counsel.

Responding, Deji Eniseyin, counsel to Soji Amosu and others argued that there are four persons to the dispute, the defendants entered accord with two of the applicants, leaving the other two in cold. "And that's why they timously approached the court."

Having listened to the parties, Justice Peter adjourned for judgement till February 24, 2021.

The suit was filed on November 19. 2019 and by the Ogun NUJ Chairman, Soji Amosu, and three other claimants, challenging the purported decision of the union’s national leadership to conduct fresh election into the offices occupied by the claimants.

The national leadership had constituted a five-member electoral committee, with Lanre Ogunyinka and Tunde Olayiwola appointed as chairman and secretary respectively.

But ruling of  the National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Ibadan in November  on the application brought by counsel to the applicants, Deji Enisenyin, the presiding judge ordered the respondents to refrain from conducting any election in the Ogun State council of NUJ.