By Yinka Olumide
The National Industrial Court (NIC), Abuja, on Thursday set down hearing of interlocutory injunction on the leadership crisis rocking the Road Transport Employers’ Association (RTEAN).
The court fixed two dates Nov. 11 and Dec 16 for hearing between the claimant, RTEAN and 34 others and the defendants Mr Eriyo Osakpamwam and Yusuf Ibrahim Adeniyi.
The RTEAN NEC had on Sept 17, expelled the National President, Mr Eriyo Osakpanwan.
The RTEAN NEC, which took the decision at an emergency meeting in Lagos, also announced the expulsion of the union’s Secretary-General, Mr Ibrahim Yusuf.
It consequently announced the appointment of Alh. Mohammed Musa, the Deputy National President (Administration) and Mr Henry Ejiofor, the Deputy Secretary-General, as replacements for the duo, in acting capacity.
The NEC said the expulsion Eriyo and Yusuf followed allegations of fraudulent activities against them and the alleged creation of chaos in some state executive councils of the union.
The development worsened the leadership crisis rocking the association with Musa and Eriyo factions claiming the top post in the association.
Approaching the NIC, presided over by Justice Sanusi Kado in Abuja, Osakpamwam obtained an order which restrained Musa and six others from parading themselves as NEC members of RTEAN, pending hearing and determination of the motion already before the court.
Meanwhile, Musa and his team also obtained another order from NIC, Abuja issued by Justice O.Y. Anuwe on Oct. 8, who called all parties to maintain law and order and peaceful coexistence pending the determination of the Motion of Notice.
Anuwe, who fixed Thursday for hearing, ordered that the Motion of Notice as well as the Originating Processes shall immediately be served upon the defendants by the Claimant
When the case was called up on Thursday, Counsel to the claimant, Mr Sule Shuaibu protested that A.S.U Garba, who announced appearance for the 1st Claimant (Osakpamwam and Yusuf) was an interloper.
Shuaibu said that the counsel to defendants just served them the Originating processes at about 9:00a.m
The judge said that it appeared to her that there was a conflict with regards to the representation of the 1st defendants, asking Garba to regularise his position.
She said that Garba had not filed to enter the appearance process, adding that there was not issue to argue.
Anuwe asked the both counsels if they had issues with Originating Summon and Interlocutory Application before she step down the case.
She ordered that all reaction should be filed by all parties.
Speaking to newsmen, Shuaibu, Counsel to the claimant, said that the matter was stepped down for the hearing of their interlocutory injunction.
The counsel said the claimant had four separate injunctive releases being sought for from the court.
He said that the two defendants had filed their own processes and had served the claimants this morning.
Shuaibu said : “Because of the processes that we were served this morning, we were compelled to acceed to an adjournment of the matter to another date to enable us react to those papers that have been served this morning.
“Two separate dates have been set down for us to come and hear the matter. If the first date takes care of the matter so be it, otherwise, we will come back the second day.”
He said that the case was going well and they were playing according to the rule.
One of the Counsels to the defendants, Mr Olayiwola Afolabi maintained that there was an injunction restraining Musa from claiming and parading himself and President of the association.
Afolabi said: “As at now that motion is still there. So, no cause for alarm and we are very happy today.”
