Court Stops Rivers NCSU Boss’ Removal

The removal from office of the Chairman of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Comrade Opuoyibo Lilly-West by the National Secretariat of the union has suffered a set back following an order of interlocutory injunction granted by a Port Harcourt High Court.

The court on December 13 restrained defendants/respondents which include the National President of NCSU, Comrade Mohammed Kiri, General Secretary, Comrade Gerald Ukeni, the State Secretary, Comrade Daniel Otakpor and Comrade Lucky Deele, the purported chairman of the caretaker committee for himself and on behalf of members from taking over, parading themselves or making representations to third parties or in any way holding themselves out as the persons running the affairs of the union pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The order which was granted by Justice S.H. Aprioku also restrained the fourth defendant, Comrade Lucky Deele and members of the caretaker committee from parading themselves as the interim executive of the union pending the determination of the substantive suit. The case was however adjourned to January 25, 26, 27 and 28,2011 for accelerated hearing while the trial was slated for February 1, 2 and 3, 2011.

November 1, 2010, the National President of the union, Comrade Mohammed Kiri and other national officers stormed Port Harcourt and purportedly dissolved the Lilly-West-led Rivers State Executive Committee of NCSU and set up a caretaker committee in its place to run the affairs of the union.

Since the court stopped his removal, Comrade Opuoyibo Lilly-West, has lifted the suspension order slammed on 21 members of the union since August 2007.

The state NCSU chairman told newsmen in Port Harcourt that the suspension was lifted for peace to return to the union as well as to pave the way for genuine reconciliation of all aggrieved members of the union.

He explained that the suspension of the members three years ago was done in bad faith, stressing that the era of highhandedness by the leadership of the union and the looting of the funds of the union was over.

Lilly-West decried a situation where the union had been torn apart by internal wrangling, and appealed to members of his executive committee to return to the union’s fold and contribute towards moving the union forward.

Also speaking, one of the members of the union whose suspension was lifted, Comrade Asiebu Ade thanked the union chairman for the gesture and urged him to enthrone purposeful leadership in the union by carrying all members along.

Donatus Ebi