News
Court Turns Down Amaechi’s Request For Thursday’s Hearing Of Contract Dispute Suit Against Him
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday refused the request by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi for a suit against him to be heard on Thursday or Friday this week.
There is a suit against the minister on the award of contracts for Cargo tracking.
The court declined the request on the grounds that it can no longer lawfully sit as an Easter vacation court to adjudicate the matter.
Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed declined to grant Thursday or Friday this week for a compulsory hearing of the suit
on the reason that his mandate as Easter vacation Judge ends on April 25.
READ ALSO: Federal High Court Chief Judge Re-assigns Contract Dispute Suit Against Amaechi To Another Judge
The Judge in a ruling on an application for April 28 or 29 compulsory hearing of the suit said, doing so, would amount to a flagrant disrespect to the order of the Chief Judge of the Court mandating him to hear the case during Easter vacation.
A former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Akin Olujimi SAN had prayed Justice Mohammed to grant Thursday or Friday for a definite hearing of the suit.
Olujimi who is lead counsel to the 2nd defendant (BPP) in the suit predicated his request for Thursday on the ground that the country was losing huge revenue and that the delay in hearing is impacting negatively on the security of the country.
He accused the plaintiffs in the suit of unwillingness to have the case heard during Easter vacation through the action of the lead counsel in going for lesser Hajj.
The senior lawyer asked the Judge to compel the appearance of the plaintiff’s lawyer against Thursday through phone calls, text messages and e-mailed issuance of hearing notice.
At Monday’s proceedings, plaintiff counsel, AbduHakeem Mustapha SAN had in a letter dated April 19 and addressed to the Chief Judge indicated that he would not be available during Easter vacation for the hearing of the suit that had earlier been slated for May 9.
Justice Mohammed in the ruling said the plaintiff’s letter that he would not be available for the matter during Easter vacation had been made available to him by the Chief Judge.
“As I said earlier, the request was for this matter to be heard during Easter vacation and it can only be heard during the period in compliance with the order of the Chief Judge.
READ ALSO: 2023: Fresh Plot Against Zoning As APC Govs Scheme Against Tinubu, Osinbajo, Amaechi
“It is a fact that vacation ends today and this court will resume full work tomorrow. My mandate as Easter vacation Judge ends today.
“I am therefore unable to grant the request for Thursday or Friday hearing of this suit. To do so will amount to flagrant disrespect to the Chief Judge’s directive.
“I make an order returning this case file to court 6 where the substantive matter is pending”, the Judge held.
Justice Tsoho had in a letter dated April 7, 2022, written by his Special Assistant (SA), Ambrose Unaeze declined Amaechi’s request for a suit transfer which he made in March 31, 2022 letter through his lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
But, in a fresh letter dated April 14, 2022, Justice Tsoho acceeded on reasons of extreme urgency and agreed to transfer part of the case marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1587/2021 to Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed.
The suit is challenging Amaechi’s handling of the process for the award of the contract for operators of Nigeria’s International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) to a new judge.
A civil group, the Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER) instituted the suit against Amaechi, alleging manipulation of the contract process in favour of two local and inexperienced firms – Medtech Scientific Limited and Rozi International Nigeria Limited.
The plaintiff prayed the court to void and set aside the disputed process of the contract award.
READ ALSO: 2023: Why I Want To Be President – Amaechi
Meanwhile, a hearing in the matter is expected to hold on May 9, 2022, before Justice Donatus Okorowo.
News
Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court
The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.
Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.
READ ALSO:Edo NLC Divided Over May Day Celebration
The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.
They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.
The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.
In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.
READ ALSO:JUST IN: NLC Begins Meeting With ASUU, Other Unions Over Strike
The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.
The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.
According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.
However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.
News
Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru
Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.
Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.
READ ALSO:Film Premiere: Edo In Talks With Embassies To Promote Safe Migration —Agazuma
La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.
The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.
The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.
He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.
News
Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses
The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.
DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.
A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.
READ ALSO:Xenophobic Attacks: Oshiomhole Tells FG To Retaliate Against South African Companies In Nigeria
“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.
“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.
“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.
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