Law Officers in the Ministry of Justice, Calabar, Cross River State have taken the Cross River State government to Court over unpaid salaries and alleged removal of their names from government payroll.
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In Suit Number: NICN/CA/46/2019 and NICN/CA/52/2019 pending before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Calabar Division, the Law Officers numbering over 40, some of whom are now Magistrates in the Cross River State Judiciary, are praying the Court to order the restoration of their names into government payroll as well as payment of accumulated salary arrears.
Our correspondent gathered that when the cases came up in Court for mention today 19/2/2020, Barr. Joseph Oloko who appeared as lead counsel for the Claimants lamented the precarious condition of the claimants who continue to work for government without corresponding payment. He reportedly urged the Court to set down the matter for hearing saying that the Defendants have filed their defence to the suit.
On his part, the Honourable Attorney General of Cross River State, Mr. Tanko Ashang, appeared for the Defendants and led a team of Directors from the Ministry of Justice, Calabar. He urged Claimants’ counsel to sheath his sword and informed the Court that the Claimants are Law Officers from his chambers and are still “performing excellent work” for government. He also stated that steps were being taken to resolve the situation. He therefore prayed the Court to give a fairly long adjournment to enable parties settle and report to Court.
Meanwhile, senior lawyers present in Court, including Mba E. Ukweni SAN, Chief Utum Eteng and William Anwan Esq. took turns to bare their mind as “friends of the Court” and condemned the action of the Cross River State government.
Chief Utum Eteng, who is a respected elder of the Calabar Bar, urged both the Court and the Attorney General to consider the place of the Claimants as professional colleagues and therefore do all that is necessary towards speedy and amicable resolution of the case.
The respective cases have been further adjourned to March 25, 2020 for report of settlement/hearing.
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