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From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The inaugural sitting of the Edo State Local Government election petition tribunal, yesterday, suffered a setback when the enforcers of the ongoing nation wide strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in solidarity with its president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, prevented the proceedings from continuing.
It would be recall that the Local Government Councils election was conducted on September 2, 2023 in the state.
The tribunal was constituted by the State Chief Judge and notice was given to concerned petitioners that sitting would commence today.
Sitting had barely began when officials of the labour Union’s invaded the venue and ordered everybody out and shut the door of the building.
It was learnt that the tribunal has 18 petitions before it and a limited time frame, the immediate past president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Olumide Akpata was among those at the court to watch proceedings.
Reacting, a counsel to one of the defendants, Samson Eraze said “Before the strike, we got a hearing notice for today and the inaugural sitting was supposed to be today and because we didn’t get any other notice directing otherwise, we have to be here. We came fully prepared for the business of the day but before the commencement of the sitting, labour union leaders stormed the court premises and asked us to vacate the premises because of the strike action.
“The cases are time bound but we will wait for further direction but the time can be enlarged because this is not caused by any of the parties.”
For the NLC chairman in the state, Comrade Odion Olaye, he lauded the level of compliance and said the shutting down of the court sitting was in compliance with the ongoing strike.
