FG vs ASUU: Court adjourns case to Friday, rejects SERAP’s application

By Bimbo Adenrele, Abuja

The Federal Government on Monday urged the National Industrial Court to order the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its seven months strike.

The matter which came up before Hon. Justice Polycarp Hamman brought by Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige on behalf of the Federal Government, by way of referral is praying the court to order ASUU to resume academic activities, amongst other prayers.

The parties to the suit are the Federal Government and the Minister of Education as Claimants while ASUU is the Defendant.

When the matter slated for mention came up, Mr Ebunolu Adegoruwa, SAN, informed the court that he was representing Socio- Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and that he had filed a suit on the same subject matter before the same court.

He said that in the suit NICN/ABJ/269/2022, SERAP is the Claimant with the Federal Government as the Defendant.

He urged the Court to consolidate the extant suit and join SERAP in the suit as a Defendant, instead of multiply suits on the same matter before the same court.

Responding Counsel to the Claimant, Mr T.A Gazali, SAN, said the application was premature and added that there was no need for SERAP to pray to be joined in a suit orally in a matter that did not have its name on the causelist.

Replying, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, counsel to ASUU informed the court that both counsel had informed him on Monday that they both were filing some papers.

Furthermore, Mr. Falana in addition urged the court to step down the matter to enable both Counsel to file their papers and then return at a later date after he would have responded to the Caimant’s process.

Mr.Adegoruwa hinted that the Defendant had not denied the existence of the suit SERAP filed and served on them.

The Claimant’s Counsel stated that his process will be filed Monday while the Defendant’s Counsel said he would need three days to reply to the process.

Justice Hamman in his ruling adjourned the matter to Friday for further mention.

He also directed that both the Claimant and Defendant should file and serve their processes before the adjourned date.

Moreover, the Judge ruled that SERAP’s application for joinder in the suit was premature.