Leadership tussle: Court hears Ogun NUJ suit May 20

The Federal High Court in Ogun State has fixed May 20 for hearing in a suit filed by the leaders of the Nigeria Union of Justice, Ogun State chapter, to challenge the alleged move to invalidate their election by the union’s national president, Chris Isiguzo.

In the suit, marked FHC/AB/CS/50/2019, the Ogun NUJ Chairman, Soji Amosu, and four others, are praying the court to restrain Isiguzo and other respondents from conducting a fresh election to fill the offices into which they won elections on March 29, 2019.

The plaintiffs are seeking an order nullifying the decision taken by NUJ’s Central Working Committee at a May 7, 2019 meeting in relation to their election as the leaders of the union in Ogun State.

In the suit, Amosu and his co-plaintiffs described the election of March 29, which produced them as peaceful, saying same was supervised by national officers of the NUJ.

They claimed that the national leadership of the NUJ, headed by Isiguzo, was making moves to annul their election and constitute a caretaker committee to oversee the union’s activities in Ogun State.

Apart from Amosu, the other plaintiffs are Kunle Olayeni (Vice Chairman), Ayokunle Ewuoso (Secretary), Abiodun Taiwo (Assistant Secretary) and Henry Ojoye (member of Federated Chapel).

Joined in the suit as second, third, fourth and fifth respondents are the NUJ National Secretary, Shuaib Leman; Assistant National Secretary, Gbemiga Bamidele; NUJ Central Working Committee and NUJ National Executive Committee, respectively.

Also joined as respondents are Biodun Ogundipe, Remi Olugbenro, Daud Olanrewaju, Goke Oyebade and Bisi Alarape, Kayode Taiwo, Segun Lawole, Adewole Dosunmu, Ayo Obadimu and Dele Ayodo.

At the Monday proceedings in the case, Justice Muhammad Abubakar, direct the service of court papers on the respondents.

He adjourned till May 20 for hearing.