Rivers, Bayelsa PTDU Court Strikes Out Preliminary Objection

National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting at Abuja has struck out a preliminary objection in suit between the caretaker committee of Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union, Rivers and Bayelsa States (claimant) and six defendants and ordered hearing to continue.

In a ruling made available to The Tide at the weekend, the National Industrial Court, Abuja, which is presided over by Hon. Justice M. N. Esowe described the preliminary objection raised by the defendant/applicants as premature and noted that it had failed.

According to him, “the court is unable from the foregoing to dismiss this suit at his point.” It further stated that the defendants had raised a preliminary objection stating that the suit had not disclosed any cause of action and should be dismissed.

Justice Esowe said, “the preliminary objection for the reason given above is premature and fails. Same is struck out. Hearing is hereby ordered to continue forth with.

The ruling explained that John B. Gberesuu, Chief Lawrence Enock, Williams I. Asuru, Festus B. Legbara, Ogbonna Worenwu and Comrade Tobin J. Ukuta representing the committee of the Petroleum  Tanker Drivers Union, Rivers and Bayelsa states had gone to court to institute a suit claiming jointly and severally against the defendants: John Amajuoyi, George Udofia, Chief Anthony O. Okafor, Emeka M. Nzeh, Chima Chijioke and Dominic Nmerengwa) declaration that the defendants are not executives of Petroleum and Tankers Drivers Union (PTDU) Rivers and Bayelsa Chapter and have not been vested with any authority to act as executives of the union and therefore sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as executives of the said union.

The ruling also noted that the suit was transferred from Nokia judicial division consequent upon the preliminary objection raised by the defendants to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

Chidi Enyie