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Industrial Court Not For Corrupt Judges -President …S’Court Decides On Ekiti Guber, May 16
The president of National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NIC), Justice BabatundeAdejumo, has declared that no corrupt person can succeed if appointed into the bench of the court.
Justice Adejumo said those aspiring to be judges of the industrial court and expected to scale the hurdles of screening must be incorruptible and hardworking individuals.
He said the industrial court, had been limited in the performance of its duties of settling trade disputes in the country due to lopsided and faulty ways of appointing the membership of the court.
The Jurist spoke on Saturday while delivering a lecture entitled: ‘How to Become A Judge of National Industrial Court’, to mark the 2019 Attorney General’s Colloquium in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital.
In his commentary at the event, Justice Adejumo said apart from the fact that corrupt judges on the bench of the industrial court won’t make headway; corrupt tendencies of such individuals are easily exposed to the public.
He said: “It is important to hint that anyone who may aspire to become a judge of the court must understand the law, most particularly in the area of labour and industrial relations must be of impeccable character that must abhor corruption and other related vices, must be hardworking and dedicated with no moral or professional blemish.
“The foregoing was in line with Rule 4 of the 2014 Revised National Judicial Council(NJC) Guidelines and Procedural Rules for the appointment of judicial officers of all superior courts of records in Nigeria”.
He stated that most of the trade disputes being adjudicated upon by the court were government- labour industrial feud, which he said further predispose the judges to intensive lobbying and this he stressed must be resisted to protect justice and integrity of the bench.
Adejumo revealed that the industrial court failed to live up to the expectations of the people since its establishment via Trade Disputes Decree No 7 of 1976 by military regime due to the dual appointment of members of bench of the court.
“At inception, there was problem of dual procedure for the appointment of the president and other judges of the court.
“By virtue of section 19 and 25 of the Trade Union Act, the President of Nigeria appoints its president on the recommendation of the Federal Judicial Service Commission while the other members are appointed by the President through the recommendation of the Minister of Labour.
“These procedures created a lot of problems to be the extent that no quorum could be formed without the NIC president on seat.
“But with National Industrial Court Act 2006, the process was normalised and NJC is now the recommending authority just like the procedure for the appointment of judges of other superior courts”.
The Justice urged lawyers intending to serve as judges of the court to be apolitical, shun corruption and live a modest lifestyle to be able to pass the judicial scrutiny that would qualify them to the bench of NIC.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will, Thursday, decide the fates of the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi of the Al Progressives Congress (APC) and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the July 14, 2018 governorship election, when it hears the appeal petitions from the lower courts’ judgments on the matter.
The Appeal Court, had, last Thursday, March 28, in a unanimous judgment by a three-man panel of Justices, affirmed the July 28 verdict of the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which declared Fayemi as the bonafide winner of the July 14, 2018 gubernatorial election in the state.
The panel, led by Justice Stephen Adah, said it had no reason to dislodge the decision of the tribunal that the petition the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, lodged against Fayemi, lacked merit and deserved to be dismissed.
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The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.
He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.
“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.
In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.
Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.
Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.
The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.
With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the best form of gratitude Rivers people owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for protecting the interest of the State is to galvanize massive support for the President in 2027.
Fubara disclosed this last Monday during the commissioning of Permanent Secretaries Quarters built by his administration at Elimgbu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
He said that the State has what it takes to deliver the President during the 2027 general elections.
“We’ve taken a decision,our decision is for the good of Rivers State, our decision is to say thank you for the protection we have from Mr President, our decision is to prove that we have what it takes to deliver Mr President.”
Fubara expressed delight over the completion of the project, stating that the initiative was to provide accommodation, a basic need of life for public servants in the state to improve their productivity.
He explained that lack of effective social welfare was at the root of some incriminating actions that undermine the purpose of governance, noting that the commissioning of the newly built Permanent Secretaries Quarters marks a significant milestone in civil service welfare and institutional development.
“Insecurity begins when individuals are uncertain of what the next hour holds. This situation is especially challenging for family men and women, affecting confidence and decision-making,” he observed.
Fubara emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the facility and urged the beneficiaries to protect the project like a personal property, while directing the State Head of Service to appoint a facility manager to ensure long-term maintenance.
In her remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who unveiled the project, expressed appreciation to the governor and Rivers State for inviting her to commission the project.
She commended Fubara for prioritizing the welfare of Permanent Secretaries who are senior public servants and accounting officers, noting that the project reflects purposeful and visionary leadership, and urged other states to borrow a cue from the Rivers State Governor.
Walson-Jack described the initiative as a strategic investment in staff welfare and institutional continuity which she noted is in line with Renewed Hope Initiative on provision of mass housing and social stability.
“The commissioning of these houses reflect a deliberate commitment to the dignity, welfare, and productivity of senior public servants responsible for policy coordination and service delivery,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibode Bashiru, who led a high powered delegation on a visit to the governor, congratulated Rivers people for aligning with the Pan Nigerian political party, assuring that the interest of Rivers State will be duly protected in the APC.
He described President Bola Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who anchors his leadership on equity, fairness and justice, adding that the APC will provide a level playing ground for all.
The APC chief scribe also commended Fubara for providing good accommodation for public servants, stating that it will address issues of sabotage, compromise and disloyalty on the part of public servants.
Giving the project description, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the estate comprises 29 units, including nine standalone duplexes and 20 terrace buildings.
Facilities feature a water treatment plant, synchronized power generators, CCTV and alarm systems, a gym, recreational areas, and green spaces—designed to enhance comfort, performance, and productivity.
Earlier, the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr Mrs Inyingi Brown, had thanked the governor for his visionary initiative and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Rivers State Civil Servants, and restated the commitment of the State civil servants to the success of Fubara’s administration.
By: Taneh Beemene