Efforts to settle out-of-court a suit challenging Comrade Ayuba Wabba’s eligibility as president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have failed, National Industrial Court (NIC) was told yesterday.
Wabba was elected as NLC president on March 14, 2015, in Abuja, but the result of the election were discountenanced by some affiliated unions.
Two members of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Akuku-Toru Local Government Area (LGA) and Degema LGA branches, Comrades George Kaiserye and Tubotamuno Alalibo, who initiated the suit, yesterday told the court that Waba failed to attend any settlement meeting.
“We are not against settlement,” Kaiserye said.
Kaiserye, Alalibo and MHWUN Akuku-Toru and Degema LGA branches, as first to fourth claimants, are asking the court to determine among others, whether by virtue of rules 6(c) and 7(x) of NLC’s constitution, Waba’s term as president of MHWUN had not lapsed in March 2013, two years before seeking nomination, contesting and winning the election that brought him into office as NLC president.
The applicants are also seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining Waba from further parading himself or continuing to act as president of the NLC.
Joined as co-defendants with Wabba are MHWUN, NLC, minister of Employment, Labour and Productivity and registrar of Trade Unions.
Claimants’ counsel Mr. Sola Iji said his clients filed a subpoena duces tecum against Comrade Silas Adamu, MHWUN’s acting secretary-General and Registrar of Trade Unions Mrs. Nwanyieze Mbogu, asking that the matter be moved to Abuja.
Counsel to the first and second defendants, Mr. S. A. Oladipupo, agreed that efforts at settlement were made by Waba, but that no headway was reached.
“The first and second defendants filed counter affidavits. Written addresses have also been filed. We are set for hearing,” he said.
President of the National Industrial Court, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, granted claimant’s counsel’s request for an extension of time to enable the applicant reply the counter affidavit and written addresses.
Justice Adejumo also moved hearing to Abuja and adjourned till February 16.