Victor EzejaThe National Industrial Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, has issued an interim order restraining the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU or UNIZIK), Benard Odoh, from initiating any disciplinary action against members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) chapter in the institution and its chairperson, Prof Kingsley Ugboji.
The presiding judge, Honourable Justice John I. Targema, gave the order on Thursday, 14 November 2024, while ruling on an exparte application filed by ASUU UNIZIK chapter, its chairperson, Prof. Kingsley Ugboji, and other members of the university Senate.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe chairperson of the ASUU UNIZIK chapter and other plaintiffs are challenging moves by the Vice Chancellor, Pro-chancellor and Governing Council chairman, Greg Mbadiwe, towards initiating disciplinary actions against them for kicking against the appointment of the VC and subsequently filing an action in court to challenge the appointment process.
Prime Business Africa had reported that the University Governing Council, on 29th October 2024 announced the appointment of Odoh, who is said to be a Professor of Geophysics, as the seventh substantive VC of the institution.
The announcement of the appointment sparked protests by various stakeholders in the university community, including ASUU, and the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association (MDCAN), who faulted the process under which Odoh emerged.
ASUU argued that Odoh was not qualified to be appointed VC and called for his removal from office.
Following the controversies trailing the appointment, the new VC recently formed a six-member committee with the mandate to investigate and ascertain if the ASUU UNIZIK chapter, authorized the chairperson, Prof. Ugboji, to initiate legal proceedings against the governing council, and also evaluate and determine if the council’s proceedings violated Prof. Ugboji’s rights.
The committee, according to the memo dated 4 November 2024, was required to submit its report within two weeks of the date of the memo.
Also, the governing council chairman in a memo signed by the University Registrar, Mrs Rosemary Nwokike, directed all staff members with pending legal actions against the university to withdraw them within seven days of the notice.
However, the industrial court granted an order of interim injunction, mandating the defendants to “dissolve and disband” the committee constituted to investigate if Ugboji was authorised by ASUU UNIZIK chapter to initiate legal proceedings against the governing council and if the council’s proceedings violated his rights, “pending the hearing and final determination of the Motion on Notice for Injunction filed on 12/11/2024.”
The court also granted an order of interim injunction restraining the Defendants (particularly the VC), from constituting or proceeding with any Committee to investigate ASUU chairperson’s activities regarding the appointment, pending the hearing and final determination of the matter.
The court also barred the VC, registrar, and council chairman from interfering in the affairs of ASUU which is a Registered Trade Union legitimately operating in the University, pending the hearing and final determination of the case.
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The court also granted an order preventing the VC and others he may assign, from “taking steps or initiating any disciplinary proceeding aimed at intimidating, harassing or victimizing the Claimants pending the hearing and final determination of the Motion on Notice for Injunction filed on 12/11/2024.”
The court further gave an order setting aside the university memo dated 11th November which directed staff members to withdraw all pending suits against the university.
The court held that the applicant’s motion exparte was brought under Orders 17 and 22 of the National Industrial Court Rules 2017 and Section 6(6) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
It ordered that the defendants/respondents should be served the order immediately and adjourned the matter to 27 November 2024.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
