National Industrial Court Cautions NUJ Against Proceeding With Its Scheduled 2024 Election

The National Industrial Court, Abuja Division on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, cautioned the Nigeria Union of Journalists against going ahead with its 8th Triennial Delegates Conference scheduled for November 26 to 28, 2024

The Court advised the Union to postpone the election pending the resolution of the issues before it as filed by an aggrieve member of the Union, Mr. Olayinka Abdulwaheed Adubi.

The claimant is asking the Court to restrain the National leadership of the NUJ from elongating the tenure of the Central Working Committee (CWC) led by Christopher Isiguzo.

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Adubi, a member of the NUJ based in Kaduna State Council of the Union, filed the suit before the National Industrial Court seeking to restrain the NUJ President, Christopher Isiguzo from using his office to elongate the tenure of his Central Working Committee whose tenure ended on October 6, 2024.

The claimant told the Court that Isiguzo deliberately refused to constitute the Election Credentials Committee, to foster the elongation plan of his led CWC clearly in contrast to the provisions of the Constitution of the NUJ.

When the Court heard the matter on Wednesday, Counsel to the Claimant urged the Court to prevent the NUJ from tying the hands of the Court through its actions.

Accordingly, the trial judge, Justice Olufunke Anuwe cautioned the NUJ to await its ruling on the case before it can proceed with the said election.

The Court accordingly, fixed December 13, 2024 for ruling on the matter.

Commenting on the Court caution shortly after the session, Counsel to the claimant, Barrister Sarafa Yusuff said that with the position of the trial judge, if the NUJ make the mistake of going ahead with the case, it would be taking a serious risk since it is clear that the matter is already before the Court that said that the NUJ should not proceed further pending the determination of the case by the Court.

Sarafa said; “I do not think they would want to violate the decision of the Court since they know that there is a notice before the Court for which the Court cautioned that all should maintain status quo”

Also speaking on the Court decision, Barrister Chugbo Enwezor, a former member of the Anambra House of Assembly who has been into legal for about 30 years, said that once a matter has been turned to a court for adjudication, all parties are expected not to take any further step to preempt the decision of the Court.

Enwezro said that following the pronouncement of the Court that one of the parties in the suit should be advised not to proceed further, an injunction is not required before compliance.

In his words; “The Court was just being extra careful not to be too hard but to let them know that if they continue thereafter, it shall be deemed as a self-help which will result in the nullification of any act carried out including the election which the court said should not continue.

“The Court pronouncement in form of advice is as good as an injunction. It simply said that you should remain where you are and not proceed with self-help pending the determination of the case. It is a faith accompli in law, meaning, there should be no further action on the matter pending the resolution by the Court.