Court quashes sale of Imo NUJ Secretariat

A high court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, has nullified the sale of a Secretariat complex belonging to the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Imo State Council, along Port Harcourt Road Owerri.

The court gave the ruling while giving its final judgement on the case brought before it by, Precious Nwadike, Steve Uzoeshi, and Lambert Ojukwu on behalf of other members against, Chris Akaraonye, Juliet Dim and others following the sale of the union’s property which they alleged was done illegally.

Delivering the judgement, the presiding Judge, Justice Ann Ononeze Madu while ruling on the matter, said the respondents lack the administrative capacity to engage in any transaction on behalf of the union members over their property.

The Judge frowned at the actions of the respondents whose claims, as leaders of the union are being challenged at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Owerri.

Justice Madu said they ought not to operate as leaders of the union until the pending case at the Industrial court is determined.

He ruled that every activity carried out by the respondents on behalf of the union including the sale of the union’s property is null and void until the matter at Industrial court is resolved.

The presiding Judge berated Chris Akaraonye, Juliet Dim and their cohorts for parading themselves as leaders of the union bearing in mind that their leadership remained a subject of litigation at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

The jurist vacated the order earlier given on the matter saying the court was deceived by the respondents who did not disclose that the leadership of the Union was being contested at the National Industrial Court, Owerri Division at the time the court gave the order.

Justice Madu, described Chris Akaraonye, Juliet Dim and all those involved in the fraudulent sale of the union’s property as impostors who had no locus to speak or engage in any transaction whatsoever on behalf of the NUJ.

“Hence all that Chris Akaraonye and his purported executive did for the period they were in office are null and void and of no effect.” the Judge ruled.

On that premise, the judge ordered the immediate release of the four occupants of the Secretariat who were earlier committed to prison without arraignment or trial recently by a Magistrate Court.

Justice Madu also told members of the union to continue using the secretariat and its appurtenances without disturbance from any quarters.

Reacting to the ruling, Ben Osuagwu, a former State Chairman of the union described the judgement as justice well deserved.

He said the judgement will go a long way in restoring the dignity of the journalism profession in Imo State.