Court Begins Hearing on Alleged Tenure Extension by NUJ’s Isiguzo-Led Executive
ABUJA/Nigeria: The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in Abuja, commenced hearings on Friday, 8th August 2024, on a suit challenging the alleged unconstitutional tenure extension by the Chris Isiguzo-led Central Working Committee (CWC) of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
The case, which is being heard in Court 3 of the National Industrial Court at Area 11, Garki District, was brought before Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae.
The proceedings, which marked the first mention of the case, have been adjourned to 12th November 2024, following an agreement between the litigant’s counsel, Mr Sarafa Yusuff, who stood in for Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr Ibrahim Bawa, and the defence counsel, Mr Patrick Ediale. The court agreed to this new date for a definitive hearing.
During the session, Justice Obaseki-Osaghae highlighted a pending application that was yet to be addressed. In response, Yusuff assured the court that the application for an injunction would be moved during the November hearing, noting that the defendants had been duly served with the relevant court notices and documents. He stated, “I intend to move the pending application on 12th November.”
After the court session, Yusuff informed journalists that the presence of the defendants in court confirmed they had been served with all necessary legal documents. He stressed that any further actions taken by the Isiguzo-led NUJ concerning the upcoming election would be seen as an attempt to undermine the judicial process. Yusuff further indicated that the union and its leadership should halt all activities related to the scheduled election until the court reaches its final verdict.
The suit was filed by a concerned NUJ member from the Kaduna Council, Abdulwaheed Adubi, through his counsel, Mr Bawa.
Adubi is seeking the court’s interpretation of the NUJ Constitution, specifically regarding the tenure of the CWC, which was elected into office on 7th October 2021. The claimant also questions the legality of the Credentials Committee set up by the Isiguzo-led National Executive Committee (NEC) ahead of the union’s 8th Triennial Delegates Conference.
This move, Adubi argues, was made less than three months before the current leadership’s tenure was set to expire, which he claims violates the union’s constitution.
Adubi is further asking the court to rule on whether the NEC has the authority to extend the tenure of the CWC under the provisions of the NUJ Constitution. His legal action also calls for a review of specific constitutional provisions to prevent what he describes as “executive rascality” and non-compliance with the union’s rules, particularly in the leadership’s handling of its affairs.
According to the NUJ Constitution, the tenure of the Isiguzo-led leadership, which commenced on 7th October 2021, was due to conclude on 6th October 2024. The court is expected to determine whether any further extension of this leadership’s term is constitutional.
The case, which centres on constitutional interpretation and the rule of law within the NUJ, has attracted attention from various stakeholders within Nigeria’s journalism community. Adubi, a seasoned journalist, is the claimant in the suit, with the Nigeria Union of Journalists and Chris Isiguzo listed as respondents.
