Appeal Court Tasks FG, ASUU To Resolve Dispute Out Of Court

…Fixes October 6, for hearing Of stay of execution of Ruling of NIC

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday tasked the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), to resolve their dispute amicably out of court.

The Court gave the two parties 24 hours within which to have a rethink, sit down and come out with resolutions that would make Nigerians happy.

Justice Georgewill Biobele Abraham gave the duo the task when the Federal Government and ASUU appeared before the appellate Court for hearing in the appeal instituted by ASUU against the ruling of the National Industrial Court.

Justice Biobele further tasked counsel to the Federal Government, Mr James Igwe SAN and that of ASUU, Mr Femi Falana SAN to first sit down as lawyers, take patriotic position and convey the position to their clients.

He said; “There is time for everything, time for war and time for peace. As Ministers in the temple of justice, we want to see the two of you as Senior Lawyers to encourage and explore amicable settlement of this dispute.

“In fact, we expect to return to this court on Thursday with good news that the dispute has been thrashed out and all the appreciation of Nigerians will go to you.

“So, talk to your clients to take the interest of the nation into consideration for the sake of our children. As you leave here, go and sit down and talk and resolve the matter,” he counseled.

The Counsel to the Federal Government, James Igwe thanked the Justices for the admonitions and promised to look into the counselling with his colleague.

Speaking in turn, Cousel to ASUU, Mr. Femi Falana said that he had initiated something similar and would be happy to do more on the way out of the strike, adding that an amicable resolution of the matter would involve give and take from both parties.

In the meantime, the Appeal Court presided over by Justice Barka Hamma Akawu has fixed October 6, 2022 for hearing in a motion filed by ASUU for stay of execution of the ruling of the Industrial Court which ordered the striking lecturers to go and resume work pending the resolution of the dispute with the Federal Government.

At the Wednesday’s proceedings, Femi Falana SAN sought to move the motion but the Federal Government lawyer objected on the ground that he had not been served with the motion dated September 28, 2022.

The record of the Court however revealed that the motion was served on the office of the Attorney General of the Federation AGF.

Following the development, Counsel to the Federal Government sought for a short adjournment to enable him respond to the motion.

Accordingly, Presiding Justice Barka Hamma Akawu fixed October 6, 2022 for hearing of the motion.