The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Abuja is set to adjudicate over a suit bordering on alleged illegal tenure elongation by the Chris Isiguzo-led Central Working Committee of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
This followed the assigning of the matter to a judge for commencement of hearing and trial of the case.
The case was instituted by a concerned member of the Union from Kaduna Council, Abdulwaheed Adubi through his counsel, Mr Ibrahim Bawa, SAN.
Adubi is praying the National Industrial Court to adjudicate and interpret the provisions of the NUJ Constitution in relation to tenure of the CWC that was elected into office on October 6, 2021.
The claimant is also challenging the Constitution of the Credentials Committee of the 8th Triennial Delegates Conference of the Union by the Isiguzo-led NEC less than three months to the expiration of the tenure of the executive contrary to the specified provision of the Constitution of the NUJ in addition to the interpretation of certain provisions of the Constitution of the NUJ.
In the suit which would form part of the legal fireworks in court, the claimant is praying the court to determine whether the National Executive Committee (NEC), has the power to extend the tenure of the CWC based on the provisions of the NUJ Constitution.
The interpretation of some provisions of the NUJ Constitution being sought by the claimant is to check executive rascality and recklessness in the conduct of the affairs of the NUJ.
Going by the NUJ Constitution, the tenure of Chris Isiguzo-led leadership which came on board on October 7, 2021 ended on October 6, 2024.
It was gathered that knowing the abuses of the provisions of the NUJ with regards to the expiration of his tenure, one of the members of the CWC on Sunday, October 6, 2024 moved all his personal belongings from the National Secretariat of the NUJ situated at Jahi District of Abuja.
