Table of Contents
- Denial of Claims
- Ongoing Trial
- Defendants
- Charges Against Defendants
- Testimony of Akporeha
- Election Controversy
The National President of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Williams Akporeha,
has refuted allegations that the union is employing the police and the courts to address internal leadership conflicts.
Akporeha made this denial on Wednesday during cross-examination by Christopher Oshomegie, the defense counsel, in the ongoing trial of 21 former leaders of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of NUPENG before Judge Yusuf Halilu at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The defendants are reportedly facing a five-count charge related to attempted murder, public disturbance, and assault.
Among those charged are Lucky Osesua, a former PTD national chairman; Dayyabu Garga; Humble Obinna; Akinolu Olabisi; Godwin Nwaka; Tiamiu Sikiru; Abdulmimin Shaibu; and John Amajuoyi. Additional defendants include Zaira Aregbo, Patrick Erhivwor, Stephen Ogheneruemu, Gift Ukponku, and Sunday Ezeocha.
In the charge marked FCT/HC/CR/042/2023, the prosecution alleges that the defendants attacked Akporeha, Olawale Afolabi, the union’s secretary-general, and Augustine Egbon, the newly elected PTD national chairman, in a manner that jeopardized their lives.
All defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
As the second prosecution witness (PW2), Akporeha testified in court that NUPENG remains a cohesive organization and is not divided into rival factions, as claimed.
“It is incorrect to assert that one group is using the police and the court against another to resolve a union issue.
“I am the national president of the union; I oversee everyone. NUPENG is a single entity, and there are no factions. NUPENG comprises around 150 branches, with PTD being just one of them. The notion of one group opposing another is unfounded,” he stated.
He informed the court that the PTD branch held an executive election in June 2022 in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, which resulted in Osesua and others being elected.
However, the National Industrial Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, later annulled the election and mandated a new poll to be conducted under NUPENG's supervision.
“Following the annulment of the first election, another one was held as per the court's directive.
“Some individuals returned to court again, and that election was also nullified. Subsequently, NUPENG organized another election in Ibadan, while some individuals conducted an unauthorized election in Abuja.
“It is NUPENG that is responsible for conducting the election, and the one held in Ibadan was the legitimate election,” Akporeha asserted.
What are the allegations against the defendants? The defendants are facing a five-count charge related to attempted murder, public disturbance, and assault.
The defendants are facing a five-count charge related to attempted murder, public disturbance, and assault.
What was Akporeha's stance regarding the internal conflicts of NUPENG? Akporeha stated that NUPENG is a unified body without rival factions and denied using the police or courts to settle disputes.
Akporeha stated that NUPENG is a unified body without rival factions and denied using the police or courts to settle disputes.
What happened to the PTD branch's election? The PTD branch's election held in June 2022 was annulled by the National Industrial Court, which ordered a new election to be conducted under NUPENG's supervision.
The PTD branch's election held in June 2022 was annulled by the National Industrial Court, which ordered a new election to be conducted under NUPENG's supervision.
