Firm’s ex-workers vow to press for justice in 20-year case

Court rules March 16 in Lagos sanitation suit

THE entire former members of staff of a company, Zapata, have vowed to pursue their case with it locally and internationally until justice is done and the trust fund’s proceeds paid to them.

   In a statement by the chairman, Monday Amredhe, and secretary, Joshua Onomrioghenetota, the former workers insisted that they were out to ensure justice even as they trusted that God and the Nigerian judiciary would fight on their side. 

   The conflict, which emanated from the trust fund created by the company on behalf of the workers, has lingered for over 20 years. 

 According to the aggrieved ex-workers, Tidex inherited the assets and liabilities of Zapata when it took over the company. 

   Following that, both firms agreed that Tidex would pay workers their benefits, including the trust fund proceeds, and that those ending their jobs with Zapata as a result of the merger would also benefit. 

   However, they regretted that the firm had refused to comply with the terms of the agreement, while the workers had been in and out of courts for many years in efforts to get their due.    They decried the long period of litigation, which even remains pending.

  Meanwhile, Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos, will on March 16 deliver judgment in the suit filed by human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, challenging the restriction of human movements on the last Saturday of every month for environmental sanitation.

   The suit filed against the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Government as defendants. Adegboruwa represented himself while the Chief State Counsel from the state Ministry of Justice, Mr. Jonathan Ogunsanya, represented the Lagos State Government.

   Adegboruwa argued that there is no law in force in Lagos State presently restricting movement of persons for the purpose of environmental sanitation. 

He insisted that section 39 of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Law 2000, which the respondents claimed empowers the commissioner for the environment to make regulations, cannot be the basis of restricting human movement on Saturdays, as no regulation in force has indeed been made for that purpose.

   He further urged the court to hold that even if there is such regulation in force, it cannot be enforced on roads designated as federal highways under the Highways Act, such as the Third Mainland Bridge, where he was arrested by the police and LASTMA officials.