The Caretaker Committee Executive of Imo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ ably led by Comrade Precious Nwadike yesterday, Thursday, April 7, forestalled the move by the National President of the Union, Christopher Isiguzo, one Chris Akaraonye, Innocent Igwe, a staff of Imo Broadcasting Corporation, IBC and others from selling the Union’s Secretariat, along PortHarcourt Road, Owerri.
The members of the Union had thronged the Press Centre as early as 7am ,Thursday in a bid to stop the planned demolition of the Secretariat by a surrogate of a former Governor of the state with the penchant for land grabbing.
The Union got a renowned SAN to obtain an Order for stay of Execution by the Owerri High Court which was obviously deceived to give the said judgement with out consent of the Journalists in the state.
The move was sequel to the purported attempt to seal up the Secretariat by some persons who claimed to have obtained court order for having been allowed to lease the premises for 90 years.
Following the development, the State Chairman of the Union, on behalf of the members went to court and obtained an order staying execution of the said judgement. The hearing on the motion has been fixed for May, 25.
In granting the motion on notice by the Counsel for the Union, the Court clearly issued order as follows:
An order staying execution of judgement against the applicant here in pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice to set the judgement aside. Setting aside the judgement obtained on November 11,2021 for lack of due process.
The court, further took notice that the grounds upon which the Applicants (the Union) made the application include:
“…an earlier pending suit on capacity of the parties dealing with the property in this suit in suit No: OW/NICN/01/2019 and which has not been determined.
“That by Article 5c Sub Article 9(c) of the Constitution of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Caretaker Committee was endowed with running the affairs of the Association in Imo State.
“That by reason of same, all dealings without the authority of the Committee whether by litigation or otherwise is null and void.
Recalling his experience in Abuja recently to Union members, the NUJ Chairman, Comr. Nwadike explained how the NUJ National President, Chris Isiguzo went to the management of the International Institute of Journalism, IIJ, office to intimidate it from resuming lectures in its Owerri Campus. He said the Imo NUJ complex had been sold.
Comr. Nwadike said the Union’s President went to IIJ following his visit to the School authority in Abuja, a day before to inform them of the improved infrastructural development at the Owerri Campus situated at the NUJ Secretariat.
The Union leader further revealed that he has evidence to believe that Isiguzo, Chris Akaraonye, Innocent Igwe, who works in IBC with others sold the Press Centre for N90 million to a former Governor of Imo State through a surrogate by the name ENEDO GENERAL SERVICES LTD. They have sold this complex to him to build a hotel, shopping mall and Eatery but the Union was never notified of the case in court for which the ill perceived judgement was gotten.
The NUJ Chairman who is a Law student revealed that the judgement was obtained since November 11, 2021 and hid it against being challenged with in 90 days. “These retirees never meant well for the Union, they are a disgrace to our noble profession”, he moaned.
