By Dabur Nabem
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in Makurdi Thursday nullified the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Benue Council election.
Ruling for motion of contempt filed by Counsel to a member of the union from the State Information Chapel, Mr Orduen Dura, the presiding judge, Justice Hon. (Dr) I.J Essien nullified the just concluded NUJ election in the Benue Council led by Mr Bemdoo Ugber for violating court orders stopping them from conducting election in the council.
The court also ordered the arrest and detention of the National President of NUJ, Chris Isiguzo, the National Secretary General, Shuaibu Usman Leman, Vice President Zone D, Wilson Bako, Mr Bemdoo Ugber, the purported Chairman, NUJ Benue Council and his EXCO for contempt of court.
Justice Essien also ordered for the arrest of the Chairman and Secretary of the Credentials Committee, Mr Iorember Apuu and Mr James Shim respectively, for conducting election, despite court orders restraining them from doing so.
Counsel to the claimant, Iortyom Womboh, in his motion for contempt, urged the court to use its powers in line with Order 63 and commit to prison the defendants, except Martins Kajo, the immediate past Acting Chairman of NUJ Benue Council who disassociated himself from the election and all his prayers were granted.
Reacting to motion to join Mr Ugber in the substantive suit filed by his Counsel, Justice Essien refused to hear the motion, noting that they violated court orders. He ordered the police to arrest Mr Ugber in the court and commit him to prison.
The trial judge however, ordered the Caretaker Committee Chairman of NUJ Benue Council, Mr Steven Ijoh to take over the affairs of NUJ Benue Council, pending the determination of the case.
Justice Essien further warned journalists that the ruling will serve as deterrent to others, adding that the law protects trade unions like babies and was dismayed why members would violate court orders with impunity, showing disrespect to the court.
He however, ordered the Commissioner of Police Benue State Command to arrest and commit all the defendants to court.
Recall that Mr Dura had dragged the union before the Court seeking, interpretation on whether the National Secretariat of the union had the right to violate its constitution by clearing candidates that had been disqualified by its credentials committee.
Mr Dura had informed the court that while undergoing screening for the council polls, Mr Bemdoo Ugber of Radio Benue Chapel and Mr Terna Umah of the NTA Chapel did not meet the 50 percent attendance requirement and were disqualified by the committee but their disqualifications were upturned by the national body of the union.
He therefore, approached the court seeking for an injunction to put the election that had been slated for July 3 on hold, pending the determination of the matter before it.
The injunction was granted on July 2 and service effected on the Acting Chairman of the NUJ Benue council, Mr Kajo. However, the credentials committee, headed by Mr Apuu went ahead to conduct the elections in disregard of the court order stopping it.