The National Industrial Court has granted an Interim Injunction stopping the conduct of election for the executives of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, University of Abuja branch. A Caretaker Committee which was not recognized by the national body of SSANU had planned to conduct election for the branch union executive committee on Tuesday.
However, the Comrade Jude Nwabueze executive recognized by the national body had approached the National Industrial Court, Abuja, seeking interim injunction to stop the election pending the determination of the Interlocutory Injunction.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Comrade Samson Ugwoke, National President of SSANU and Comrade Jude Nwabueze, the branch chairman who are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Claimants have dragged the Caretaker Committee led by Hassan Shalangwa and Uche Igboeli who are the Defendants to court seeking interim order to stop them (Defendants) from conducting any election.
The Claimants in the suit that was heared by Justice Sanusi Kado, the Vacation Judge are seeking Order of interim injunction restraining the Defendants Respondents either by themselves, their agents, officers or privies from conducting, organising, holding in any manner whatsoever or howsoever proceed with and or conduct the proposed election of officers into the executive committee of SSANU University of Abuja branch on 31/7/2018 pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.
The Claimants through their Counsel, I.G. Haruna sought for any further order or orders the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstance. The Order was granted by the trial Judge, Justice Kado.
In his ruling, the trial Judge said, “I hereby carefully and painstakingly perused the content of the motion exparte and in its supporting affidavit with the exhibits attached therein, I have written address of counsel submission of counsel for the applicants
“In an application of this nature the applicants are seeking for discretionary power of the court; and like every discretionary power must be; exercise judicially and judiciously taking into consideration criteria for considering the application. An applicant for an Interim Order of injunction must be; able to establish that there is; serious question or substantial issue to be; tried.
The reliefs being; sought in the complaint clearly shows that the applicants are; contesting the validity of the 1st Defendant Interim Caretaker Committee and that the authentic committee is; the one led by 3rd Claimant in this Suit. I believe this to my mind has raised substantial question to be; determined at the trial.
Having regards to the facts disclosed in the Affidavit in support, I am satisfied; that the applicants have made out a case for grant of an Order; or Interim Injunction. It is my view that if parties are; not restrained the Association may be; plunged into chaos as regards the authentic officials of the Association. In view of the foregoing and the need to preserve the res from destruction; that I hereby grant the Order as prayed.
‘Therefore, an Order of Interim Injunction is; hereby granted restraining the Defendants/Respondents either by themselves, their agents, officers or privies from conducting; organising holding in any manner whatsoever or howsoever or proceed with; and/or conduct the proposed election of officers into the executive committee of SSANU; University of Abuja branch on 31/7/2018 pending the determination of the Motion; on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction.
My mandate as a Vacation Judge is; only to hear and determine Expatriate Motion having done that, the case file is; hereby returned to the Honourable President of the Court for reassignment to a Judge; that will handle the Interlocutory application and the substantive Suit.”
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