FUNNAB: Industrial Court adjourns case till Feb 27, orders parties to maintain status quo

JUSTICE F. I. Kola-Olalere of the National Industrial Court, Ibadan division, on Monday adjourned the case involving 15 members of staff of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNNAB), Ogun State, till Monday, February 27, 2017, and orders the parties involved to maintain status quo pending the determination of the case.

The case, NICN/AB/16/2016, which was for mention before Justice Kola-Olalere on Monday, is between 14 staff members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta branch, against the management of the institution.

The claimants are: Olurotimi Williams, Adewale Babatunde Ojoye, Oluseyi Sunday Abraham Anjorin, Hafees Adeseun Adeleke, Bright Obiriwonsi, Roland Onyekachukwu Iyeh, Bolanle Mujidat Adebesin, Tina Christina Eyiowuawi, Olugbenga Alayode, Adeyemi Olafimihan, SSANU, Emmanuel Abinbola Bankole, Abdussobur Olayiwola Salaam and Olasunkanmi P. Somoye.

The defendants, according to the suit, included the host institution; FUNAAB, the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe; vice chancellor, Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Ade Enikuomehin, Professor Yemisi Eromosele, Registrar and secretary of council, Mr Matthew Odunlade Ayoola and the Council.

Counsel to the claimants, Oludotun Sotonade, put it before the court that the management had took disciplinary action against his clients without following due process.

The action, according to Sotonade led to the unlawful sack of 23 members of the association while the case had been before the court.

He also put it before the court that the defendants counsel is incomplete with witnesses’ disposition and that the statement of oath is missing. He also informed the court of the termination of 23 claimants’ appointments, filing an exparte motion, which was not granted.

The defence counsel, Mrs Maryam Ojekunle-Egunjobi, promised to file the missing documents before the next adjourned date.

Sotonade, however, further prayed the court for speedy trial and urged that all parties maintain status quo since the matter is before the court.

In her ruling, Justice Kola-Olalere struck out the exparte motion of claimants’ counsel to ensure speedy trial and ordered the two parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the case before the court, as she adjourned the case till Monday, February 27, 2017 for hearing and defence in Ibadan.

She also urged the defence counsel to file the list of witnesses and witnesses’ disposition.