The Editor of Abuja-based New National Star newspaper, Akin Orimolade, has taken the outgoing President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo, to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NIC) over the latter’s second term bid.
In a statement, yesterday, Orimolade described Isiguzo as an impostor and unfit to serve as the union’s president. The editor is asking the court to mandate Isiguzo to vacate the office of the National President of NUJ at the National Headquarters, Mabushi, Abuja.
In suit no. NIC/ABJ/257/2021 served on the defendants on September 27, 2021, the plaintiff, through his counsel, “is asking the court for a perpetual injunction restraining Isiguzo from parading himself as the National President of NUJ and stop participating in any activities of NUJ forthwith until he complies with Article 3(1) (a) (2) (b) of the NUJ Constitution 2011.”
In a 21-paragraph affidavit sworn to at the Industrial Court Registry, Abuja, on September 27, 2021, Orimolade said: “Isiguzo does not possess the minimum academic qualification and has not fulfilled any other condition(s) required by the NUJ Constitution.
“The second defendant was not qualified to contest or be voted for in any of the first defendant’s activities and/or organised election of October 4 and 5, 2018 or future elections/activities until he satisfies the provisions of Article 3 (1)(a)(2)(b) of the NUJ Constitution of November 15, 2011.”
According to him, prior to NUJ election of October 2018, the second defendant was enmeshed in certificate scandal, which has not been cleared till the time of filing the suit.
“The second defendant applied and was offered employment by ThisDay Newspaper as Higher National Diploma (HND) certificate holder in 2006. He claimed to have obtained the certificate from Federal Polytechnic, Oko in June 1998. He purports to have obtained the certificate in the name of ‘Isinguzoro Ikechukwu C’, but was cleared and screened by the then NUJ Credentials Committee to contest the election for the position of National President as Mr. Chris Isiguzo, which he won.
Orimolade, in the affidavit, explained how the embattled president claimed in an affidavit he sworn to in an Enugu Magistrate Court that he is ‘Mr Chris Isinguzo Ikechukwu C’, ‘Isinguzoro Ikechukwu C’, ‘Isinguzoro Ikecukeu Christopher’ and ‘Isiguzo Christopher Chunks’.
