Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf
Worried by the level of apathy being displayed by counsels to the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the ongoing litigation brought by the ex-staff of nonconsolidated banks, Hon. Justice Mustapha Tijani of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Lagos Judicial Division, has impressed on all the parties involved in the matter to cooperate with the court in order to expedite action on the case.
Speaking at the resumed hearing at Court 10, Justice Tijani queried the prolonged delay with the case, just as the lead counsel to the plaintiffs; Mr. Dotun Onafowope recalled that he had filed interrogatories in February in preparation for the trial but yet to get responses from the defence counsels.
According to Justice Tijani, who said he would rather all addresses and preliminary objections are entertained for the trial to commence in earnest, urged the counsels to do all within their powers to make things work.
While M.O Adediran, defence counsel to the CBN said he inadvertently forgot to respond to the interrogatory summons filed by the claimants’ counsel, Ogechi Ogbonna, lawyer to the NDIC, claimed not to have received the written addresses, and was subsequently served by the claimant’s counsel. He was however, quick to add that some sections of the interrogatories are irrelevant to the case but was overruled by the judge who said, it was not in the counsel’s place to determine the relevance or otherwise of an address, but that of the court.
Addressing journalists, counsel to the claimants, Daniel Omotilewa said, “What happened in court today, the matter is meant for trial today. Earlier, we filed interrogatories to throw up answers to some questions that have been on for ages since the commencement of this liquidation exercise. But tactically, the questions have not been answered and these are questions that go to the root of this case. Of course, we are asking questions about the properties they have been selling, what have been happening to the proceeds between the CBN and the NDIC? So until we can have answers to these questions, the answers to these questions, the court need to know to come up with a conclusion. So that’s the whole essence. Of course, we served these interrogatories since February this year, and look at what the defence lawyers are saying in court today.”
These questions, he stressed, “Are so germane. If you go to the root of this matter, it might cause some ripples between the two organisations. So that’s why we are praying the court to ensure that these questions are answered. We even said, we are ready to go on with the trial despite the fact that the questions have not yet been answered. So by the time they will answer the questions, they would meet us along the way. But the court said in its wisdom said no. let them go and answer these questions first and come back. By the time they answer some of these questions, the time we will spend in the court, some of the things we want to be asking people must have been answered and may be in written addresses. We have 1116 claimants, all ex-staff of banks. The closure of these banks is not because of their negligence of duty or whatever but a federal government-induced closure of the banks. So if these people they have used their productive years. Even the Bible says, a labouer deserves his wages.”
The case was adjourned to November 11-12, 2019, for next reading of addresses and trial.
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