Benue Council Election: NUJ Heads To Appeal Court, Says Bench Warrant Unnecessary, Ruling Misdirected

By Daniel Dafe

The National Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has reacted to the bench warrant issued against the National President of the Union, Chris Iziguzo and other leaders, saying that “the bench warrant was not proper, unnecessary just as the ruling was a misdirected one.”

In a statement on Friday signed by Chris Iziguzo, NUJ said the bench warrant came to the Union as a surprise since there was no breach of any Court pronouncement.

The statement continued: “As a law abiding organisation, the NUJ deems it fit and proper to state the facts as they are with its utmost respect for the court and the rule of law.

“It is appropriate to state that the NUJ and its leadership were never served any Court process before the conduct of the election in Benue State on the 3rd day of July 2021, since the NUJ is not a meddlesome interloper.

“Specifically, the NUJ was served on the 9th of July 2021 almost one week after the election was conducted and as a responsible union which respects the constitutionality of the Nigerian Courts, it sent a legal representation to
the court on the next adjourned date.”

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According to the statement, “NUJ will continue to pursue the course of justice with its firm belief in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.”

Adding: “We have instructed our counsel, MAMMAN, MAIYAKI & CO to take all legal steps to set aside the bench warrant and to challenge the ruling in the Court of Appeal.”

The body urged all members of the association to remain calm and go about their normal businesses, saying that they will be informed of all events as they unfold.