The National Industrial Court of Nigeria is set to decide the legal battle of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike against the striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, January 26.
Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Sublimi of the Industrial Court has in a hearing notice, fixed January 26 for hearing of a suit instituted by Wike to challenge the legality or otherwise of the strike action being coordinated by the Joint Union Action Committee of the aggrieved workers.
The hearing notice has been served on the leadership of the workers and the team of lawyers engaged by Wike and being led by Dr Ogwu James Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, compelling their attendance in court on January 26.
Wike, through Ogwu James Onoja of the Bar and Bench Chambers in Abuja had dragged the striking workers to the Industrial Court, seeking to stop the strike action on various grounds.
Among others, the FCT Minister claimed that a very large percentage of the demands tabled before him by the workers had been met, hence, the ongoing strike action was unnecessary and illegal.
The suit marked NICN/ABJ/17/2026 has the FCT Minister and the FCTA as the two plaintiffs while the defendants are the President of JUAC, Rifkatu Iortyer and the Secretary General, Abdullahi Saleh who are sued by Wike and FCTA in their representative capacities.
The aggrieved workers of the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority FCDA had commenced an indefinite strike last Monday following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to Wike to meet their demands peacefully or be forced to do so.
The striking workers shut down operations at the FCTA Secretariat last week promoting Wike to drag them before the court for legal resolutions of all issues in dispute.
The Minister and the FCTA are specifically, seeking an order of the court restraining the unions and their agents from engaging in picketing, obstruction, lockouts, or any action directed at the plaintiffs, departmental heads, and political appointees.
In the suit, Wike and FCTA accused the unions of blocking roads, shutting offices and disrupting the smooth running of the FCT administration against them.
At last week’s proceedings, lawyers for Wike and FCTA were present in court while those of the workers were absent having not been served with relevant court papers as required by law.
The Minister and the FCTA were represented by a team of senior lawyers, including Ogwu Onoja, SAN; Moses Ameh Ebute, SAN; George Ibrahim, SAN; K.O. Mustapha,l and Esther Audu.
However to compel attendance of the workers in court on January 26, Justice Subilim issued an order for substituted service empowering Wike to serve them with the court process through newspaper publication and by also pasting same at the gate of the FCTA at the FCTA Secretariat, No. 1 Kapital Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja to draw their attention.
Justice Subilim held that the substituted mode of service would be deemed valid and proper by the court on January 26 proceedings.
Meanwhile, the President of JUAC, Rifkatu Iortyer and the Secretary General, Abdullahi Saleh have confirmed receipt of the Court Summons and ready to be in court with their legal team to prosecute defense for them.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
