…Caretaker Committee Underway
The 2021Triennial Delegates Conference of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) scheduled to hold in Umuahia, Abia State between 3rd to 5th October, 2021 has suffered a setback as the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in the Ibadan has restrained the NUJ from going ahead with the election.
This is coming as the incumbent National President of the NUJ, Mr. Chris Isiguzo who is seeking reelection, and other aspirants in his slate, have lately been junketing around the country to solicit for votes.
In the suit with number NICN/IB/61/2021 filed by Mr. Soji Amosu, the Chairman of Ogun NUJ and Mr. Ayokunle Ewuoso, Secretary of Ogun NUJ, Justice Opeloye Ogunbowale granted the three prayers of the applicants.
The respondents in the case include: Nigeria Union of Journalists; Mr. Garba Muhammed, the Credentials Committee Chairman; his secretary, Victor Ndukwe; NUJ President and his Secretary as well as all members of the credentials Committee amongst others
The applicants prayed for the following:
“An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents jointly and severally by themselves, their agents, servants preview officers law or any persons however described from performing aiding and or executing any act for the purposes of conducting any election international offices of the 10th respondents (NUJ) pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents jointly and severally their privies, servants or agents from interfering with the office of the chairman and Secretary of the ogun state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists presently being occupied by the applicants, as recognised by the judgement of this court delivered by Honorable Justice J. D Peters, attached as exhibit A in the affidavit in support of this application as it relates to the national delegate conference of the 10th respondents coming up between the 3rd to 5th of October, 2021 pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed in this suit.
“An order of the Honourable Court suspending all actions, proceedings, steps, processes relating to national delegate conference of the 10th respondents to come up between the 3rd to 5th of October, 2021, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed in this suit.”
The court, upon reading the affidavit of urgency and affidavit in support of the motion exparte, ordered as follows:
“An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents, jointly and severally by themselves, their agents, privies, officers or any person however described from performing, aiding and or executing any act for the purposes of conducting any election into the national offices of the 10th respondents, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice in this case.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents jointly and severally, their privies, servants or agents from interfering with the offices of the chairman and Secretary of the ogun state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, presently being occupied by the applicant has recognised by the judgement of this court delivered by the horrible justice J.D Peters, (Exhibit A) as it relate to the national delegates conference of the 10th Respondents coming up between the 3rd and the 5th of October 2021 pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice in this case.
“An order for suspension of all actions, proceedings, steps and processes relating to the national delegate conference of the 10th respondents fixed to come up between the 3rd and 5th of October 2021 pending the hearing and determination of this motion on notice in this case.”
The case was further adjourned to October 26th, 2021 for hearing of motion on notice.
Reacting to the development, a Port Harcourt based media practitioner, Dave Iwunze said with the tenure of the incumbent executives of the union billed to expire on Monday, October 4, 2021, and the case adjourned to October 26, 2021, the NUJ Constitution provides for setting up of a Caretaker Committee to fill the vacuum.
“The business of the NUJ must go on and only a Caretaker Committee would drive the wheel of the body pending the determination of the suit”, he said.
