FCT: Wike begins legal moves to jail striking workers over alleged contempt

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has activated the legal process of jailing the striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over alleged disobedience to order of the National Industrial Court.

The court had in a restraining order made on January 27, stopped the strike until the determination of the suit instituted against them by the FCT Minister.

But the workers have continued with the strike, relying on their pending appeal at the Court of Appeal against the ruling of the National Industrial Court. Irked by the development, the FCT Minister has obtained form 48, a legal document of court, which spelt out the consequences of violating order of court, to be served on the striking workers.

The form 48 was obtained by his counsel, Dr James Onoja (SAN) to compel the workers to obey order of court or be committed to jail as stipulated by law.  The form 48 is titled: ‘Notice of Consequence of Disobedience of Order of Court’ and would be followed with contempt charges.

“Take note that unless you obey the directions contained in the order of Honourable Justice E. D Sublimi of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria delivered 27th day of January 2026, you will be guilty of the contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison,” the form stated. The notice of consequence of disobedience of order of court, dated January 29, was signed by the Registrar of the Industrial Court, Mr. Olajide Balogun.

Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Sublimi of the National Industrial Court had on January 27 ordered workers of the FCTA to suspend their industrial action, pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons issued against them by the FCT Minister.

The order of the judge followed an application by the FCT Minister, through Ogwu James Onoja (SAN), in which he sought an order of court compelling the striking FCTA workers to return to work.

In the suit, Wike had listed the president and secretary of the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC), Rifkatu Iortyer, and Abdullahi Umar Saleh as respondents.

Justice Subilimi had held that industrial action, including strikes, must be suspended once a dispute has been referred to the National Industrial Court.