The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has urged its members nationwide to remain calm over a court judgment obtained by one of its former Presidents, Innocent Bola-Audu.

Bola-Audu is contesting his removal as President of the association, while ASCSN insists that his term had expired.

The association stated that the court judgment dated April 15, 2026, obtained by Bola-Audu has been appealed.

It also said it has filed a notice of appeal against the judgment, along with a motion on notice for a stay of execution of the judgment, in the exercise of the association’s constitutional right of appeal.

In 2021, Bola-Audu was expelled by the union after he was arrested by the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and charged in court with alleged human trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable persons.

In a statement, the ASCSN National President, Shehu Mohammed, and the Secretary-General, Joshua Apebo, said that on July 9, 2024, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), in delivering judgment in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/214/2022, held that Innocent Bola-Audu, having been elected National President of the union on July 29, 2020, should complete his tenure by July 29, 2024, and that he should be compensated with N3 million for his legal fees.

“All efforts to have Innocent Bola-Audu receive his compensation of N3 million, as ordered by the Court, have been rebuffed by him.”

“It is, therefore, not surprising that two years after his tenure expired, he had the effrontery to deceive the Court again by claiming that he was re-elected at a purported delegates’ conference.

“We note with dismay the purported dismissal and suspension, as purportedly stated in Innocent Bola Audu’s letter dated April 15, 2026,” they said.

They urged their members to remain calm, confident, and focused on the association’s objectives, expressing confidence that the Appellate Court would overturn the judgment obtained by Bola-Audu and his cohorts.

According to them, the ASCSN, as a democratic organisation, is not owned by one man and should not be administered by an emperor.