Court adjourns NNPCL staff cooperative society dispute to Nov 29

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Maitama, on Friday, adjourned further hearing on the leadership crisis rocking the Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited until November 29.

Justice Charles Agbaza took the decision following an application by counsel to the 13th defendant, who said he was only served the originating summons two days ago and would need time to file a reply.

The applicant also informed the court that there is a pending matter on the issue at the Court of Appeal and therefore applied for a stay of proceedings pending the determination of that suit.

He therefore prayed the court to first determine the application for a stay of execution before addressing any other issues.

Counsel for the defendants did not oppose the application, and Justice Agbaza adjourned the matter to November 29, 2024, to rule on both issues.

Eze Onwuneme and three other aggrieved members of the cooperative society — Chamberlin Ajagba, Alhaji Ibrahim Yakubu, and Bello Mohammed Garba — brought the case, marked FCTHC/ABJ/CV/2460/2024, before the court.

Listed as defendants in the suit are Engr. Josiah Omole, Udo Iboro, Ituah Aikhena, Osondu Ibeji, Farouk Achimugu, Prince Etuwewe, Nura Bello, Michael Adejoh, Sambo Abdulaziz, and Vincent Orji.

Others include Saint Kamvene, Braimoh Sunday Joseph, Galadima Immanuel, Engr. Iliya Yusuf, Musa Garba Abubakar, and the NNPC Ltd. Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Abuja.

The plaintiffs are seeking, among other reliefs, an order nullifying the purported appointment of the 2nd and 3rd defendants (Iboro and Aikhena) as President and General Secretary of the group, as well as the 4th and 15th defendants (Ibeji and Abubakar) as members of the Management Committee.

They also seek an order of injunction restraining the 1st defendant (Omole) and his agents from recognizing or giving effect to the 2nd to 15th defendants as President, General Secretary, and members of the Management Committee of the group.

The plaintiffs are also asking for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the 2nd-15th defendants and their agents or servants from parading themselves as members of the Management Committee of the cooperative society.

Consequently, the court adjourned the matter to November 29.