Benue Court Bench Warrant: Improper, Unnecessary, Misdirected – NUJ

BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The National Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has expressed surprise and concern over a bench warrant issued against it and its officers by an Industrial Court sitting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

It stressed that with all its actions and inactions, it hold the strong view that the bench warrant was not proper, unnecessary just as the ruling was a misdirected one.

The NUJ in a statement by its National President, Mr Chris Isiguzo, said that with profound respect to the Court, the bench warrant came to the Union as a surprise for the simple reason that it did not breach any Court pronouncement as it was never served any Court processes before the conduct of election into the Benue State Council of the NUJ.

The Union explained that as a law abiding organisation, it deems it fit and proper to state the facts as they are with its utmost respect for the court and the rule of law.

In the words of Isiguzo; “It is appropriate to state that the NUJ and its leadership were never served any Court process before the conduct of the election in Benue State on the 3rd day of July 2021, since the NUJ is not a meddlesome interloper.

“Specifically, the NUJ was served on the 9th of  July 2021 almost one week after the election was conducted and as a responsible union which respects the constitutionality of the Nigerian Courts, it sent a legal representation to the court on the next adjourned date.

“With all our actions and inactions, we are of the opinion that the bench warrant was not proper, unnecessary just as the ruling was a misdirected one,” he insisted.

The NUJ further states that in spite of its reservations over this ruling, it will continue to pursue the course of justice with its firm belief in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.

In the meantime, the NUJ said that as a legal entity, it has instructed its counsel, MAMMAN, MAIYAKI & CO to take all legal steps to set aside the bench warrant and to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

The Union therefore urged its members to remain calm and go about their normal businesses as they will be informed of all events as they unfold.

Find below the NUJ Statement

RE-ISSUANCE OF BENCH WARRANT ON NUJ NATIONAL SECRETARIAT OVER THE CONDUCT OF BENUE COUNCIL ELECTION.

The attention of the National Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has been drawn to the bench warrant issued against it and its officers.

We must state with profound respect to the Court that the bench warrant came to us as a surprise for the simple reason that we did not breach any Court pronouncement.

As a law abiding organisation, the NUJ deems it fit and proper to state the facts as they are with its utmost respect for the court and the rule of law.

It is appropriate to state that the NUJ and its leadership were never served any Court process before the conduct of the election in Benue State on the 3rd day of July 2021, since the NUJ is not a meddlesome interloper.

Specifically, the NUJ was served on the 9th of July 2021 almost one week after the election was conducted and as  a responsible union which respects the constitutionality of the Nigerian Courts, it sent a legal representation to the court on the next adjourned date.

With all our actions and inactions, we are of the opinion that the bench warrant was not proper, unnecessary just as the ruling was a misdirected one.

In spite of our reservations over this ruling, the NUJ will continue to pursue the course of justice with its firm belief in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.

Meanwhile, as a legal entity, we have instructed our counsel, MAMMAN, MAIYAKI & CO to take all legal steps to set aside the bench warrant and to challenge  the ruling in the  Court of Appeal. Additionally, we urge all members of the NUJ to remain calm and go about their normal businesses as they will be informed of all events as they unfold.

Chris Isiguzo 

National President 

16th July, 2021