The National Industrial Court, Abuja Division presided over by Hon. Justice Babatunde Adeniran Adejumo (OFR), President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/179/2016 between Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney-General of the Federation versus Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress (TUC) this morning granted an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants/ respondents, their agents, privies, employees, workmen or servants from embarking on industrial action, demonstrating or engaging in any action that may disrupt the economic activities of the country pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The Federal Government was represented by the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), Chief O.O.Obono-Obla, special Assistant to the President (Prosecution), Office of the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Dayo Apata, Director, Civil litigation, Federal Ministry of Justice.
The Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation submitted that if the reliefs sought in the motion paper were refused, irreparable damage would be occasioned to the country’s economy, security and corporate existence.
He further submitted that the defendants having threatened to shut down the country have to be restrained otherwise there would be a breakdown of law and order.
In his ruling, Hon. Justice Adejumo held that he had jurisdiction to hear the application and that having read through the affidavit in support of the application, he was satisfied that a case of urgency had been established by the Federal Government of Nigeria to warrant the grant of an interim order of injunction.
He said the threats of the defendants as contained in the communiqué issued by the defendants on the 14th of May to shut down all banks, airports, seaports, government offices markets nationwide had proven that there was a res to be protected.
Recall that over the weekend, organised labour and the civil society gave the Federal Government till midnight on Tuesday to reverse the increase or face an indefinite national strike.
Meanwhile, the two major unions in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector endorsed the price modulation mechanism adopted by the Federal Government to arrive at the new N145 per litre pump price for petrol.
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