A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama has postponed further proceedings regarding the leadership dispute within the Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, now scheduled for November 8.
Justice Charles Agbaza stated that the court will also address a motion filed by 15 staff members of NNPCL, seeking his disqualification from presiding over the case. The defendants, represented by Mr. Ibrahim Idris, SAN, argue that they lack confidence in the judge’s ability to impartially resolve the leadership issue, citing perceived bias in previous interim orders issued by the court.
The defendants asserted that their trust in the judge had been severely undermined, indicating that the nature of his orders suggested a likelihood of injustice. “The defendants have lost total and complete faith in the presiding judge’s ability to continue this case without bias,” they stated.
The motion, grounded in Section 36(1) of the amended 1999 Constitution, highlighted a specific incident on October 3, when the court ordered Mr. Lekan Ogunbayo to clarify his role as President of the Management Committee for the Cooperative, amidst a dispute over legal representation. This order, the defendants contend, prejudged the substantive suit concerning the validity of the Management Committee led by Ogunbayo, who had been removed by the Cooperative’s Congress.
The defendants further argued that an interim order made by the court on October 10, which extended a prior injunction without hearing their side, constituted a denial of fair hearing and a perversion of justice.
Justice Agbaza acknowledged the motion’s receipt and set the date for hearing all pending applications. The case, marked FCTHC/ABJ/CV/260/2024, was brought forward by four dissatisfied members of the Cooperative: Eze Onwuneme, Chamberlin Ajagba, Alhaji Ibrahim Yakubu, and Bello Mohammed Garba.
In related proceedings, counsel for the plaintiffs, Mr. George Ibrahim, SAN, expressed his intention to withdraw a contempt charge against Mrs. Fatima Yakubu, the Director of the Human Resources Department at NNPCL, for allegedly violating interim court orders.
Written By; Christopher Emuakpeje