Hearing began Friday at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja, in a lawsuit challenging the extension of the tenure of Chris Isiguzo-led Central Working Committee of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ.
The case was mentioned in Court 3, presided over by Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae but was adjourned after agreement by counsels.
The litigant’s Counsel, Mr. Sarafa Yusuff, who represented Mr. Ibrahim Bawa, SAN, and the defendants’ Counsel, Mr. Patrick Ediale agreed on November 12 for further hearing. after the presiding judge mentioned a pending application that had yet to be addressed.
Sarafa emphasized that the defendants’ presence in court indicated they had received all relevant court processes. Speaking with reporters after the session, Mr. Sarafa Yusuff noted that any further actions by the defendants would be viewed as a deliberate attempt to undermine the court’s authority, highlighting that they had been properly served with all necessary notices and documents.
The case was initiated by Abdulwaheed Adubi, a concerned member of the NUJ from the Kaduna Council, through his counsel, Mr. Ibrahim Bawa, SAN.
Adubi is asking the National Industrial Court to interpret the provisions of the NUJ Constitution concerning the tenure of the Central Working Committee CWC, which was elected on October 7, 2021.
He is also challenging the constitutionality of the Credentials Committee for the 8th Triennial Delegates Conference established by the Isiguzo-led National Executive Committee NEC, arguing that this was done less than three months before the executive’s tenure was set to expire, contrary to the NUJ Constitution’s provisions.
He specifically indicated that the NUJ and Chris Isiguzo should halt all activities related to the scheduled election until the court reaches a decision on the case. In this legal dispute, Adubi seeks a ruling on whether the NEC has the authority to extend the CWC’s tenure according to the NUJ Constitution.
Adubi seeks a court ruling to determine whether the National Executive Committee NEC can extend the tenure of the Central Working Committee CWC under the NUJ Constitution. This interpretation aims to address concerns about executive misconduct and lack of adherence to constitutional provisions by Isiguzo in managing Union affairs. According to the NUJ Constitution, the tenure of the Chris Isiguzo-led leadership, which began on October 7, 2021, is set to end on October 6, 2024.
In the suit, the claimant, Adubi, a bona fide journalist, is up against the Nigeria Union of Journalists and Chris Isiguzo as the respondents. The case has been adjourned to November 12, 2024. This decision followed an agreement between the litigant’s counsel, Mr. Sarafa Yusuff, who represented Mr. Ibrahim Bawa, SAN, and the defendants’ counsel, Mr. Patrick Ediale, for a definite hearing on that date. When the presiding judge mentioned a pending application that had not yet been addressed, Yusuff promptly informed the court that he would move for an injunction on November 12, noting that the defendants had been properly served.
Sarafa said; “I intend to move the pending application on the 12th November”.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the Court session, Mr Sarafa Yusuff said that since the defendants were duly represented in Court, it points to the fact that they have been duly served all the Court processes, stressing that any further action taken by them would be viewed as a deliberate act to undermine the Court process.
He specifically said that the NUJ and Chris Isiguzo are expected to stop any and everything pertaining to the scheduled election pending the determination of the case by the Court.
Abdulwaheed Adubi, a concerned member of the NUJ from the Kaduna Council, brought the case through his counsel, Mr. Ibrahim Bawa, SAN. He is challenging the constitutionality of the Credentials Committee established by the Isiguzo-led National Executive Committee NEC, claiming it was created less than three months before the executive’s tenure expired, in violation of NUJ provisions. Adubi seeks a ruling from the National Industrial Court to interpret the NUJ Constitution regarding the tenure of the Central Working Committee CWC, elected on October 7, 2021.
His aim is to determine whether the NEC has the authority to extend the CWC’s tenure based on the NUJ Constitution. This request for interpretation seeks to address issues of executive misconduct and ensure adherence to constitutional provisions by Isiguzo.
The NUJ Constitution stipulates that the Chris Isiguzo-led leadership should have lapsed on October 6, 2024.
In this legal matter, the Nigeria Union of Journalists and Chris Isiguzo are the respondents, while Adubi is the claimant.
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