The National Industrial Court sitting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital has ordered the State Commissioner of Police to arrest the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Chris Isiguzo, National Secretary, Leman Shuaib and the Vice President, Zone D, Mr. Wilson Bako following a contempt of Court and conduct of the State Council Poll.
Bemdoo Ubger who won the disputed union election had through his Counsel, sought leave of the Court to be joined as a defendant in the matter before the Court.
This development, angered the presiding Judge, Justice I.J. Essien who described him as ‘illegal’ Chairman.
Others to be arrested are all those that emerged as winners as well as the Chairman of Credentials Committee, Chris Apuu, Secretary, James Shim while the immediate past Acting Chairman of the Council, Comrade Kajo Martins was however, let off the hook for complying with the order of the Court by staying away from the said election.
“You this illegal Chairman, after flouting my order, you have the guts to appear before this Court seeking to be joined as a defendant. You are not leaving this Court to your house but to the prison,” Justice Essien said.
“How would society be if people at this level of insecurity chose to promote anarchy. All that won in that election are hereby committed to prison on till the next adjournment”.
Justice Essien therefore, ordered Mr. Ugber to handover any property of the Union in his position to the Interim Caretaker Committe led by Comrade Steven Ijoh and stop parading themselves as leaders of the Union in the State.
When the case came up, Counsel to the Claimant (Orduen Dura), R.I. Wombo prayed the Court to commit to prison all the respondents including the Vice President Zone D. Wilson Bako and all those that emerged as leaders during the said election.
The Counsel told the Court that all the respondents except the then Acting Chairman of the Council, Kajo Martins be exempted for not flouting the order made by the Court.
The matter has been adjourned to July 28,2021.
It will be recalled that Mr. Orduen Dura of the State Information Chapel had dragged the Union before the National Industrial Court, Makurdi Division seeking interpretation whether National Secretariat of the Union had the right to violate its constitution by qualifying candidates that were disqualified by the Credentials Committee.
In the said July 3rd, 2021 Benue NUJ Council election, Bemdoo Ubger of Radio Benue Chapel had 6 attendance while Terna Umah of NTA Chapel with 10 attendance have fallen short of 50% as required by Union’s constitution and were disqualified by the Credentials Committee.
However, when the report was sent to NUJ National Secretariat, both Ugber and Umah were cleared to join the contest alongside Dennis Ayom of the State Information and Vincent Nyinongu of The Prime chapel.
On July 2, the Court bailiff had come to effect service on the Acting Chairman and the Credentials Committee, while the Acting Chairman accepted the service, the Chairman of the Credentials Committee demurred but the bailiff left it on his table while the service were also served on the National Secretariat of the Union.
