By JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
In spite of a favourable court judgment from the National Industrial Court, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Northern Forum is insisting that its erstwhile National President, Innocent Bola Audu remains expelled.
This was expressed in a statement jointly signed by Zonal Chairman,
Comrade Shehu Mohammed and Zonal Secretary, Comrade Anthonia Pamson, made available to our correspondent in Kaduna yesterday.
“The attention of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Northern Forum has been drawn to the National Industrial Court (NIC) Abuja Judgment of Tuesday 9th July, 2024, where it stated that the former President of the Union, Innocent Bola Audu be reinstated as the President of the Association to serve out his tenure which ends on 29th July, 2024.
“The Forum is fully aware that the Association has appealed against the Judgment to the Court of Appeal in appeal No.CA/ABJ/CV/780/2024 and has also filed a motion for Order of Stay of Execution of the Judgment,” it said.
The Northern Forum commended the proactive efforts of the National Leadership of the union for the prompt steps taken, while describing the NJC judgment as incoherent and totally unacceptable.
“We also reiterate our earlier position that all the Branch/Chapter Chairmen and the State Secretaries from the zone are part and parcel of the decision to suspend and expel Innocent Bola Audu from the Union based on his anti-Union activities and so, the zone still stands on that decision,” it stressed.
The statement said that the unlawful and meaningless termination of the legal services of the union’s legal counsels; Johnson Esezoobo Esq. and Albert Igeh Esq. by former president completely negates the provision of the constitution of the association,
which vested such powers on the Central Working Committee (CWC).
“Even when he was the National President of the association, this power was not vested on him. His blatant action clearly shows that he has completely lost touch with the constitution of the association, or ignorant of the rules and modus operandi of the association.
“To support our position, the duties of the National President were clearly listed in Rule 14 of the Constitution of the association, therefore hiring and firing is not part of it,” it clarified.
However, the zone unequivocally condemned the alleged attempt by Innocent Bola Audu to take laws into his hands by invading the National Secretariat Annex in Abuja with thugs and other criminals who are not members of the union.
“Such action does not represent the character and conduct of a Senior Civil Servant, it is heinous and condemnable,” it warned.
Finally, the Forum reaffirmed that Innocent Bola Audu remains expelled from the association, and any attempt to parade himself as the National President is unanimously rejected by the zone and a legal action will be taken against him, therefore, he should wait for the determination of the case at the Appeal court.
