A Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta has fixed May 20th for the hearing of a suit filed by the Ogun State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Soji Amosu and four others over purported dissolution of the state executive committee of the Union.
Amosu had dragged the National Chairman of the Union, Chris Isiguzo, before the court in the suit, FHC/AB/CS/50/2019,seeking an order of injunction restraining the president and other respondents from conducting fresh election into the offices occupied by the applicants.
It will be recalled that Amosu and other members of his executives were duly elected in an election supervised by national officers of the Union on March 29,2019.
The applicants include Kunle Olayeni (Vice-Chairman); Ayokunle Ewuoso (Secretary); Abiodun Taiwo (Assistant Secretary) and Henry Ojoye (member, Federated Chapel).
They sought an order nullifying the May 7 meeting of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the union as it affects the offices and election of the applicants.
The CWC of the Union purportedly annuled the election and constituted a caretaker committee to run the union.
Others joined in the suit as second, third, fourth and fifth respondents are the NUJ National Secretary, Shuaib Leman, Assistant National Secretary, Gbemiga Bamidele, Central Working Committee (CWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the union.
In an originating summons and motion on notice brought pursuant to Order 28 Rule 1 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) 2009, supported by a 32-paragraph affidavit, the applicants sought the interpretation of Article 5 Paragraph 10 and Article 6 Paragraph 7 (f) of the NUJ constitution.
The applicants also sought a declaration that in view of the extant provisions of the union constitution, the sixth, seventh, eighth and tenth respondents are not eligible to contest for any elective office of the union.
They sought a declaration that all resolution taken concerning the March 29 election at the CWC meeting “37 clear days after the election” of the applicants was null and void, unconstitutional and illegal.
The applicants also sought an order setting aside the CWC meeting in so far as it affects the offices and election of the applicants.
On Monday, the presiding judge, Justice Muhammad Shittu Abubakar, ordered that all the respondents be served the court originating summons and motion on notice before May 20, the adjourned date.
Counsel to the applicants, Deji Enisenyin, had told the court that few of the respondents were served before his appearance in court.
The sixth, eleventh and twelfth respondents were represented by their counsel, S.O. Tijani.