News

Edo Govt Faces Legal Battle As Sacked Officials Challenge Termination

Published

1 year ago

January 30, 2025

Members of the dissolved Edo State Civil Service Commission have instituted a suit before the Benin Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) challenging their removal from office, which they said is unconstitutional.

They are calling for their reinstatement and claiming damages of N250 million as compensation for the purported abrupt termination of their appointment.

The suit marked NICN/BEN/06/2025 between the removed members namely, Iguodala Aluyi, Ehi Obaseki, Adegboyega Gilbert, Juliana Olatunji and Margaret Ohiowele as Respondent against the Edo state government, the governor of the state, Deputy Governor, the Attorney General of the state, the Accountant General of the State and the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly as Defendants gave them within 14 days for an appearance to be entered for them.

They want to the court among other things to determine whether the constitution empowered the defendants to dissolve the Edo State Civil Service Commission, a body they said was created under section 197 of the 1999constitution, by means of a Publication dated December 17,2024.

The Respondents want the court to declare among other things that “the 1st defendant and 2nd defendant acted in excess of the powers vested in them under the 1999 constitution when they purportedly dissolved the Edo State Civil Service Commission by a publication dated December 17, 2024, that the publication dated December 17, 2024 emanating from the 2st defendant is unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect.”

They want the court to grant an order “setting aside the publication dated December 17,2024 purportedly dissolving the Edo State Civil Service Commission, that the 1st — 5th Claimants appointments as Chairman and members of the Edo State Civil Service Commission respectively made on 15thOctober,2024 are still valid and subsisting, that the 1st to 5th Claimants by law are entitled to a guaranteed tenure of five years removable only in accordance with the provisions of S. 201(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Nigeria.

“An order restraining the defendants, their agents, representatives or assigns from doing any act(s) which may prejudice the interest of the Claimants from discharging the functions or duties of their office pending the expiration of their term of office as stipulated in Section 199(1)© of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“That the 1st to 5th claimants are entitled to all their remunerations, their full salaries, allowances and benefits from October 15, 2024,the period when they were unlawfully removed by the 2nd defendant and until their tenure expires.

“General Damages in the sum of N250,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) suffered by the Claimants for the abrupt publication and purported termination, determination or disengagement as members of the Edo State Civil Service Commission for no just cause and the attendant odium associated with it.”

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

5 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

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.

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.

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

Published

10 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

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.

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

Published

11 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

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.

“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.