FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN
Fresh legal battle has erupted over the leadership of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, as the caretaker committee instituted by the national body has approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.
In a suit, the claimant, Professor Monday Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.
Also joined in the suit are the Edo State government, Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee, constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.
They sought a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No 1, Teboga Road, Benin, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.
The suit also prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC, Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.
In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books and other properties belonging to the union.
The caretaker committee urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.
The claimants demanded N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.
According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025 over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities and constitutional violations.
The claimants alleged that despite the dissolution and subsequent appointment of a caretaker committee, the defendants have refused to vacate office, continued to control union property and obstructed the committee from accessing the secretariat.
They claimed that several attempts at amicable resolution failed, necessitating judicial intervention to prevent a breakdown of order within the council.
However, the matter is yet to be assigned a hearing date.
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