News
Wabba’s Outburst Spurious, Malicious -RSG
…Warns Labour Against Contempt Of Court
…Says Interim Injunction Properly Served On NLC, TUC
The Rivers State Government has dismissed the outburst by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, on the court proceedings in relation to the ongoing labour dispute between the state government and organized labour in the state, describing it as spurious, unfounded and malicious.
A statement signed by the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Zacheaus Adangor, in Port Harcourt, yesterday, reads, “The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to an audio message being circulated on the social media and credited to Comrade Ayuba P. Wabba, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
“For the records, the said Comrade Ayuba P. Wabba is the 3rd defendant in Suit No. NICN/LA/305/2020 (Attorney-General, Rivers State v. Nigeria Labour Congress and 5 Others) now pending before the National Industrial Court, Lagos (sitting as a vacation court).
“In the said audio message, Comrade Ayuba P. Wabba made a number of spurious, unfounded and malicious allegations against me and the Office of the Honourable Attorney-General of Rivers State in relation to the proceedings in the aforesaid Suit No. NICN/LA/305/2020 with a view to ridiculing the judicial process and impugning the authority and integrity of the court.
“It must be emphasized that ordinarily, it would not have been necessary to honour Comrade Ayuba Wabba with a response.
“However, given the seriousness of the issues raised in his putrid audio message as they appertain to our court of law and the administration of justice, it has become absolutely necessary to set the records straight.
“Contrary to the offensive assertion in the audio message that the Honourable Attorney-General of Rivers State ‘claimed’ to have obtained an Order of Interim Injunction from the National Industrial Court, the truth of the matter is that the National Industrial Court, Lagos Division (coram Hon. Justice N. C. S. Ogbuanya, J.) sitting as a vacation Judge, actually granted an Order of Interim Injunction in favour of the claimant/applicant and against the defendants on 1st September, 2020, in the following terms:
“An Order of Interim Injunction is hereby granted restraining the Defendants herein either by themselves or through their servants, agents, privies, officers or otherwise howsoever called from embarking on a strike action in Rivers State on 5th, 6th or 7th September, 2020 or any other date whether earlier or later, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory Injunction filed contemporaneously herewith;
“An Order of Interim Injunction is hereby granted restraining the Defendants either by themselves or through their servants, agents, privies, officers or otherwise howsoever from stopping, hindering, preventing, disrupting and/or interfering in any manner whatsoever with the provision of service and other works by their members in the civil and public service of the claimant/applicant pending the hearing and determination of the substantive Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction already filed.
“Given the urgency, and in line with Order 7 Rule 1 (9) of the Rules of this Court, leave is hereby granted the claimant/applicant to serve the Originating Summons, Motion on Notice and all other processes in this Suit on the Defendants along with the Interim Order herein granted, by publication in two national newspapers circulating in Nigeria, in the event that prompt service of the court processes and the Interim Order, herein, cannot be effected on the trade unions herein, as prescribed under Order 7 Rule 1 (1) (h) (ii) of the Rules of this court before the return date of further proceedings.
“To be sure, the enrolled Order of Interim Injunction has been duly served on all the defendants in accordance with the provisions of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2017, and in compliance with paragraph 3 of the enrolled Order of the Honourable Court.
“The allegation made by Comrade Ayuba Wabba that the enrolled Order of Interim Injunction has not been served on the defendants, is therefore, not only mendacious but also laughable.
“Comrade Ayuba Wabba claims that the organized labour is not embarking on a strike action but rather a “national protest in Rivers State. The word ‘protest’ is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary (2nd Edition, 2010) page 601 to mean inter alia: ‘an organized public demonstration objecting to an official policy’.
“The adjective ‘national’ which qualifies the protest being threatened by the organized labour in Rivers State, underscores the fact that protesters will be drawn from across the Federation of Nigeria. Clearly, a national protest, will invariably occasion or involve the stoppage, disruption and/or interference with the provision of service and other works by members of the organized labour in the civil and public service of the Government of Rivers State contrary to the terms of the subsisting Order of Interim Injunction granted against the defendants, including Comrade Wabba. Nothing could be more contemptuous of the Honourable Court!
“Comrade Wabba has further claimed that the Honourable Attorney-General of Rivers State has ‘boasted that he can procure any order of the court at will’. This allegation which is the product of a warped mind, shows that Comrade Wabba has no scintilla of respect for the judicial process in our courts.
“First, orders of court are not ‘procured’ but issued, made or granted by the court as the circumstances of each case may justify. Second, the Honourable Attorney-General of Rivers State has never met Comrade Wabba in his life and could not have boasted to him about his capacity to obtain court orders at will.
“The statement is thus a figment of Comrade Wabba’s imagination contrived to give colour to his threatened act of brazen illegality. Finally, the Hon. Attorney-General of Rivers State has never boasted before any official or member of the organized labour in Rivers State that he could ‘procure any order of the court at will’ either as alleged or at all.
“That irresponsible statement is not only an underserved attack on the office of the Honourable Attorney- General of Rivers State but also a veiled attack on our Judiciary. This is unfortunate.
“Finally, it is utterly false that the Honourable Attorney-General of Rivers State abducted and/or held any labour leader in Rivers State captive at the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt.
“Comrade Wabba should inform Nigerians whether any complaint has been lodged with the police against the Honourable Attorney-General in respect of the alleged abduction.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the organized labour is not a state within a state. On the contrary, it is a body created by law and is bound by the same law that gives its existence legal validity.
“The case of the Government of Rivers State before the National Industrial Court is that the organized labour cannot declare a strike action in Rivers State without strict compliance with the conditions precedent prescribed in the Trade Disputes Act, Cap, T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and the Trade Unions Act, Cap. T14 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“Our commitment to the enthronement of the rule of law in our state rather than rule by force, informed our decision to seek judicial redress against the organized labour.
“The Government of Rivers State will not engage in any act of illegality in confronting the monster of lawlessness which the organized labour now appears to epitomize”, Adangor added.
However, the Rivers State Government says the organised labour in Rivers State would be charged with contempt of court, if they proceeded with their planned protest and strike, tomorrow.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, who said this at a media briefing in his office in Port Harcourt, said the organised labour would be going against the law in view of an injunction restraining it from going ahead with the planned protest.
It would be recalled that the two umbrella unions had said in Abuja, last Thursday, that they would lead the leaderships of all affiliate unions to storm Rivers State from September 8, 2020, on a protest march against what they described as “despotic rule and development of violence against workers by the Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration”.
The commissioner described the plan by the organised labour as unfortunate, as according to him, the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike was not lawless.
Nsirim pointed out that, there was an interim injunction from the National Industrial Court, Lagos Division, restraining labour from any form of protest or strike, adding that since the matter was already in court, the state government would not join issues with labour.
“You are all aware of some recent developments in the state where the NLC is threatening to go on strike. The Rivers State Government, under the able leadership of Chief Nyesom Wike, believes strongly in the rule of law.
“On the 1st of September, 2020, the Rivers State Government obtained an order of interim injunction from the National Industrial Court presided over by Hon. Justice N.C.S. Ogbuanya, in Suit No: NICN/LA/305/2020.
“The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Rivers State, Prof Zacchaeus Adangor obtained this injunction on behalf of the Rivers State Government”, Nsirim explained.
He listed those joined in the suit pending at the Lagos court, a copy of which was made available to The Tide, as the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and his counterpart in the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Quandri Olaleye; Rivers State NLC Chairman, Comrade Beatrice Itubo; and the state TUC Chairman, Comrade Austin Jonah.
Nsirim further said the interim injunction has been served to the defendants as well as the originating summons ahead of the hearing scheduled for September 8; adding that in obedience to the court order, the state government had published the order of injunction in two national dallies on Thursday, September 3, 2020; warning the unions to be ready to face the law, if they go ahead with the protest.
Similarly, the Rivers State Government has reiterated its readiness to move the court to issue Form 48 conveying Notice of Consequence of Disobedience to Court Order on the leaderships of organized labour in Rivers State, if they insist on embarking on protest as a result of not being served, in-person, the court injunction restraining the unions from the protest billed for tomorrow.
Briefing journalists in Government House, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, said every disobedience of an order of court constitutes Contempt of Court, adding that the court that issued the order possesses both statutory and inherent powers to punish the culprits for disobedience of its order by committing the party (s) in default to prison until they purge themselves of the contempt.
He warned the organized labour against any act of overt or subtle disobedience of the subsisting orders of the National Industrial Court, adding that there shall be consequences for disobedience.
Adangor pointed out that in the circumstance, the defendants in Suit Nos. NICN/PH/41/2020 and NICN/LA/305/2020, were bound to comply strictly with the terms of the subsisting orders of interim injunction issued by the courts, insisting that they were bound to refrain from carrying out or purporting to carry out, embark upon or proceed with the strike action in Rivers State whether on September 8, 2020, or on any earlier or later date.
The address read at the briefing, titled, “Text Of A Press Conference Held By The Hon. Attorney-General And Commissioner For Justice, Rivers State, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor At Government House, Port Harcourt, On Saturday, September 5, 2020, On The Legal Aspects Of The Threatened Strike Action By Organized Labour In Rivers State”, states: “Sometime on or about the 16th day of March, 2020, the Rivers State Councils of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria issued a ‘Notice of Seven (7) Days Ultimatum for the Commencement of an Indefinite Strike Action in Rivers State by the Organized Labour’. See Annexure ‘A’.
“From the Notice of Seven (7) Days Ultimatum (Annexure ‘A’), the indefinite strike action was scheduled to commence midnight of Monday, 23rd March, 2020.
“It is important to mention that in issuing the Notice of Seven Days Ultimatum for the Commencement of Strike Action in Rivers State, the Rivers State Councils of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, failed, refused and/or neglected to fulfil the condition precedent for the declaration of strike action as prescribed in Sections 4, 6 and 18 (1) (a) of the Trade Disputes Act, Cap. T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“Consequently, the Government of Rivers State through the Honourable Attorney-General instituted Suit No. NICN/PH/41/2020 (Attorney-General Rivers State v. Comrade Beatrice Itubo, JP) at the National Industrial Court, Port Harcourt, by way of Originating Summons seeking the interpretation of the provisions of the Trade Disputes Act, Cap. T8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004 and the Trade Unions Act, Cap. T14 LFN 2004 in relation to the threatened strike action by the defendants. The Honourable Attorney, as claimant, seeks declaratory and injunctive reliefs against the defendants on records.
“Given the extreme urgency of the matter, the Attorney-General also filed an Ex-parte Application for interim injunction restraining the defendants in Suit No. NICN/PH/41/2020, from commencing, embarking on or proceeding with the strike action.
By: John Bibor & Enoch Epelle
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has expressed concern over certain unprofessional practices within the surveying profession, urging practitioners to address issues surrounding the acquisition of Rights of Way and seismic operations in the State.
The governor also raised strong objections to what he described as threats to land ownership and title in the State through the alleged issuance of Federal Certificates of Occupancy by the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation and other affiliated federal agencies.
According to him, such actions are contrary to Section 1 of the Land Use Act, Cap L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, which vests all land within a state in the Governor as trustee on behalf of the people.
Fubara made the remarks while speaking as Special Guest at the National Conference of the Association of Private Practicing Surveyors of Nigeria (APPSN), a sub-group of the National Institute of Surveyors (NIS), held at the Obi-Wali Cultural Centre, Port-Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Benibo Anabraba, the governor also expressed concern over the problem of land grabbing through illegal survey plans and the payment of inadequate compensation to landowners during compulsory land acquisition for oil and gas exploration by licence holders, urging surveyors to uphold professionalism and fairness in their practice.
He said such illegal activities negatively affect the development of the State.
Fubara urged surveyors to promote ethical and sustainable planning practices that protect the environment, including the preservation of green spaces, marine areas, and forest reserves.
He described the role of surveyors as pivotal to the growth, development, peace, and orderly governance of any society.
According to him, the services of surveyors are critical to physical and urban planning, housing development, land administration, and the provision of infrastructure.
He stressed that surveyors play indispensable roles in land use and management, infrastructure provision, environmental management, and conflict resolution, noting that their presence in government ministries, departments, and agencies ensures adherence to best practices.
“The role of surveyors in governance is pivotal to the growth, development, peace, and order of society, particularly in land administration, infrastructure development, environmental management, and conflict resolution,” the governor said.
He noted that the conference theme, “Mapping the Future: The Vital Roles of Surveyors in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry,” was particularly significant to Rivers State, given its position as the hydrocarbon heartbeat of the nation.
The President of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Surv. Pius Eze, urged all participants to optimize the opportunity provided by the conference for professional upgrading and networking, adding that the conference displays consistency of vision and dedication to the welfare of private practitioners.
The National Chairman of APPSN, Surv. Simepiriye Kalio, thanked leaders and members of the association for their sacrifices to achieving the successes recorded.
The Chairman of APPSN, Rivers State chapter, Surv. Andy Nwikinane, said that the association was working with relevant stakeholders to prevent the infiltration of quacks in the profession.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for a generational shift in African leadership, urging countries across the continent to deliberately promote younger leaders between the ages of 25 and 50.
According to him, younger leaders are more physically and mentally equipped for the rigours of modern governance.
Jonathan made the call in Abuja, yesterday, at the International Memorial Lecture and Leadership Conference marking the 50th anniversary of the assassination of former Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed.
Reflecting on the demands of leadership, the former president recalled that while in office, he sometimes had no more than two hours of sleep in 24 hours, stressing that advanced age can limit the capacity to cope with the pressures of governance.
“Why do we begin to think that you must be a hundred years old before you can rule your country?” Jonathan asked.
He noted that leadership requires unusual stamina and resilience, arguing that younger leaders are better positioned to withstand the pressure.
“If they need to stay awake for 24 hours, they can stay awake for 24 hours. When I was in office, some days I did not sleep up to two hours. If you subject an older person to that kind of stress, the person will spend 50 per cent of the time in hospital,” he said.
Jonathan aligned his position with the spirit of Nigeria’s “Not Too Young To Run” movement, which seeks to lower age barriers for elective offices and encourage youth participation in politics.
“I have to reinforce the Not Too Young To Run movement. We have to bring some of these age limits down. If we are looking for people who can run nations in Africa, we should look within the 25 to 50 age bracket. That is when you can be very vibrant, physically strong and mentally sound,” he said.
He also questioned the practice of some public office holders spending extended periods outside their states or countries.
“In a country like the United States, some governors do not leave their states for four years. But here, some of our governors spend 50 per cent of their time outside. So who runs the state? Why will we not have security problems? Coming of age must transcend many things. First and foremost, we must have the discipline to manage ourselves,” he added.
Reflecting on the legacy of General Murtala Muhammed, Jonathan said the late leader demonstrated that age was not a barrier to decisive and visionary leadership. Muhammed became Head of State at 38 and, despite ruling for only 200 days, left a lasting impact.
“General Murtala Muhammed assumed office at the very young age of 38. Despite a tenure of only 200 days, his achievements were profound because he was driven by a clear, unyielding vision.
“His leadership sent a clear message: leadership was to serve the national interest, not personal ambition,” Jonathan said.
The former president also referenced other Nigerian leaders who assumed office at relatively young ages, including General Yakubu Gowon, who became Head of State at 32 and later introduced the National Youth Service Corps, which remains in existence to this day.
“Young man of 32 managed to pull the country through the civil war. So why do we now think leadership must only come at old age?” he asked.
However, Jonathan cautioned that youth alone is insufficient without discipline, patriotism and strong institutions.
While praising Muhammad’s decisiveness, he stressed that democracy depends more on institutions than on individuals.
“Democracy requires vision rather than decree. It requires persuasion instead of command. It depends on institutions, not individuals. Above all, it requires respect for the rule of law and the willingness to submit power to the will of the people,” he said.
He urged African leaders to view governance as stewardship rather than entitlement and encouraged young people to see leadership as service.
“Young people must see leadership as service, not entitlement. Leaders must see governance as stewardship, not a right,” he said.
“I sometimes remember when I contested as a deputy governorship candidate. You had to be 40 years old before you could even be a senator, a deputy governor or a governor, not to talk about president. Yet the Head of State we are celebrating today assumed office at 38,” he added.
Calling on Nigerians and Africans to draw lessons from history, Jonathan said leadership should be measured by impact rather than duration in office.
“As we mark 50 years of General Murtala Muhammed’s legacy, let us remember that leadership is not measured by how long you govern; it is measured by the courage to act decisively when the nation needs direction and by the impact you make on society,” he said.
He emphasised that while military leaders govern by command and authority, democracy demands a different approach anchored on strong institutions, credible electoral bodies, an independent judiciary, well-trained security agencies and accountable governance systems.
“While General Murtala Muhammed symbolised decisive leadership, our democratic future depends on strong institutions. Democracy requires vision rather than decree. It requires persuasion instead of command. It depends on institutions, not individuals. Democracy also demands restraint and respect for the rule of law,” Jonathan said.
The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two men linked to a criminal syndicate that lured, kidnapped, and robbed women working as “run girls” in Port Harcourt hotels.
The suspects, 27-year-old Albert Koko-Ete Hanson and 18-year-old Wisdom Okon from Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, were apprehended after victims reported the crimes to hotel security.
One of the victims, simply identified as Faith, told the police that she was invited to a hotel under the pretense of a client request and was led to a two-bedroom apartment where the suspects were staying.
She said the suspects showed her a photograph of another woman, whom they claimed was owing them N5 million, and demanded her phone password to access her bank account. Her phone was seized, though she had no money in her account.
Faith also alleged that another female victim had already been tied and blindfolded in a bathroom, and both were later stripped and sexually assaulted, with threats of organ harvesting reportedly made by the suspects.
It was learnt that a third victim alerted friends in the hotel via text message while the suspects tried to access her bank app. The quick action of the hotel security team led to the rescue of all the three victims.
The prime suspect, Albert Koko-Ete, reportedly confessed to the crimes and revealed that he had been operating the syndicate for six years, earning over N18 million naira.
Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Grace Iringe-Koko, warned young women against engaging in prostitution, citing the high risks involved.
Iringe-Koko advised women to acquire skills and seek legitimate means of income, revealing that the syndicate specifically targeted women with high-end devices such as iPhone 15 and above.
The Police confirmed that the suspects’ method involved identifying women they could abduct to extort money from them or their relatives.
The Police said the suspects remain in custody and will be arraigned in court once investigations are complete.
The Command reiterated its commitment to protecting citizens and dismantling criminal networks preying on vulnerable individuals.
King Onunwor
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