The battle on who drives Abia State council of NLC has taken another dimension, as Justice I.S Galadima of National Industrial Court sitting in Owerri has ordered Comrade Uchenna Obigwe to maintain Status quo as Abia state chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, pending the final determination of court decision.
Briefing newsmen at Abia state NLC secretariat in Umuahia, Obigwe disclosed that the court order followed the application he made against the NLC and it’s President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba including comrade Emmanuel Ugbaja who installed Eze Idima to replace him claiming that he (Obigwe) did not qualify to run second tenure as the chairman Abia of NLC.
But the court order dated October 13th, 2021and signed by senior registrar 2, Iwuchukwu Joy, warned that any disobedience of the order shall amount to contempt. The matter was adjourned to 4th November, 2021 for cross examination and possibly defense.
The court order read in parts, “And after appearances of U.O Ukairo for the Claimants/Applicants, P.S Ndiokwere holding brief of Folabi Kuti for the Defendants/Respondents. AND UPON LISTENING and considering the arguments by the respective confirmed from both parties that the Claimant is still in the office as the chairperson of Abia State council of Nigeria Labour Congress.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:
That the prevailing/current Status quo as at today 13th October, 2021 to be maintained until final determination of this suit. Any disobedience of the order shall amount to contempt. This matter is placed on this Court’s accelerated list. The matter was adjourned to 4th November, 2021 for cross examination and possibly defense”.
According to him, there has never being a time the national leadership of NLC had taken charge of Abia council.
Obigwe further explained that he went to court to seek redress, addiing that due process should have been followed to discipline him if there was any crime he committed.
Comrade Uchenna Obigwe also in a letter dated 20th October, 2021 addressed to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, through his Chief of Staff notified him of the court order. He told newsmen that national leadership of NLC also accused him of working for Abia State government, while explaining that his enemies started chasing him because he recovered four plots of land given to Abia State government for Abia NLC secretariat which his predecessor that was late now, comrade S.O Eye sold over 20 million naira plus in collaboration with other cohorts who are not happy paying the money.
See attached letter to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu below.
