No court ruling stopping NUJ presidential election – President
The National Industrial Court, Abuja Division, has scheduled a ruling for December 13, 2024, in a case challenging the conduct of the National Elections of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Journalists report that the NUJ has planned its 8th Triennial Delegates Conference for November 27, 2024, in Owerri, Imo State.
However, Abdulwaheed Adubi has filed a case with the National Industrial Court, seeking to halt the election, arguing that the current leadership’s tenure expired on October 6, 2024.
At the resumed hearing of Abdulwaheed Adubi’s application for an injunction to prevent the national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) from proceeding with the election, the trial judge, Justice Olufunke Anuwe, declined to grant an interim injunction against the defendants. Instead, she adjourned the matter to December 13, 2024, for a ruling.
“This matter is adjourned to December 13, 2024, for ruling on the application for an injunction,” Justice Anuwe stated, dismissing all attempts by the applicant to secure a court order.
Counsel for the defendants, Patrick Ediale, informed the court that the National Executive Committee, which the applicant sought to have restrained, is not a body recognized by the NUJ Constitution. He explained that the union’s Constitution actually creates the National Executive Council. Ediale further pointed out that while other bodies the applicant sought to restrain, including the Central Working Committee and the Credential Committee, are indeed established by the NUJ Constitution, they were not named as parties in Mr. Adubi’s suit.
Counsel for the defendants, Patrick Ediale, argued that the court cannot issue an order against a party that is not before it. He further emphasized that the court could not grant an interim injunction while the legitimacy of its authority over the claims was being contested.
Ediale also contended in his affidavit that the claimant, Mr. Adubi, who claims to work for Money Central Newspapers, is not a legitimate member of the NUJ. He argued that since Money Central Newspapers lacks an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN), it does not exist, and thus Adubi’s membership is not valid.
He added that denying the injunction would be more just because Adubi had not utilized any internal conflict resolution mechanisms as outlined in Article 7 (vi) (a) & (b) of the NUJ Constitution. Under the union’s constitution, the Central Working Committee must be dissolved before state council Chairmen and Secretaries can take over the affairs of the NUJ.
In response, the claimant’s counsel, Barrister Sarafa Yusuff, urged the court to grant an interim order to prevent the union from proceeding with its election scheduled for the following week.
Reacting to the court proceedings, NUJ President Chris Isiguzo thanked the court for rejecting the claimant’s pressure to issue an interim order. He assured that the union would proceed with its Triennial Delegates Conference in Owerri as planned.
Isiguzo also addressed rumors circulating on social media, stating, “Let nobody be deceived by those spreading fake news that the election has been postponed. We are fully aware of the damage fake news is causing our media industry. No one is immune to it. Our people should ignore these rumors and get ready for the event next week.”
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at NeptunePrime.
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