Date Published: 04/23/09

NUJ Abuja crisis: Court

NUJ Abuja crisis: Court Restrains Further Suspension of Uzendu, others An Abuja High Court Wednesday, asked the Timothy Elerewe-led executive to stay further action on the suspension of Malachy Uzendu, Lateef Ibrahim, Esther Eziashi and Charles Ahamefula, all former officers of the Abuja Council of the NUJ.

The presiding judge, Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu made the order when the matter of the removal from office of the former officers came up for hearing.

Lawyer to the plaintiff Kayode Ajala had drawn the attention of the court to the suspension of the members from the union over anti-union activities when the case was pending.

However, counsel to the defendant, Barrister Benedict Ezeagu argued that the suspension of the former officers was in line with the constitution of the union that forbids any member from going to court when other dispute resolving mechanisms of the union had not been fully exploited.

Justice Ogakwu however pointed out that the country’s constitution supersedes all others and directed the reinstatement of the membership of the affected former officials.

In a curious twist after the order, Ajala pleaded the court to cross out his earlier application for interlocutory injunction restraining the Elerewe-led executive from suspending the former officers. Counsel to the defendant did not contest the new relief and the order was struck.

The sacked Uzendu-led EXCO had approached the court, seeking an order restraining the Timothy Elerewe-led executive from parading themselves as acting executive members of the Union. The matter was later adjourned till May 19 for determination of the substantive suit.