The National Industrial Court sitting in Akure has ordered Osun State Government to review the promotion of Mr Olabisi Abidemi to the post of Director on Grade Level 17.

The court also found that the decision not to consider him for promotion was unfair and inconsistent with the principles guiding public service administration.

Justice Kiyersohot Damulak, in his judgment, ordered the Governor of Osun State, the Attorney General, the Head of Service and the State Civil Service Commission to review Abidemi’s candidature in accordance with the Osun State Public Service Rules.

The court ordered that any promotion resulting from the reconsideration should take effect from the date it should have been effected and awarded N500,000 as the cost of the action in favour of the claimant.

According to court records, “Abidemi joined the Osun State Civil Service in May 2004 and was promoted to the position of Deputy Director on Grade Level 16 in July 2021.”

The claimant, who told the court he was on an approved leave of absence, but whose name appeared in the list of officers slated for promotion interview to Grade Level 17 in August 2025, participated in the exercise.

Abidemi also said that he waited for the outcome after the interview but heard nothing about his promotion status and so he wrote complaint and appeal letters to the Head of Service.

But in their defence, the Governor of Osun State and other defendants claimed that “Abidemi was not denied promotion on account of his leave of absence but was denied promotion because he did not satisfy requirements under the Osun State Public Service Rules, particularly on continuous supervision by a reporting officer and annual performance evaluation reports for four years.”

It was also their argument that “Abidemi had served the Osun State Civil Service for a period of only about eight months in the last eight years and that officers on leave of absence are not under the supervision of reporting officers during such periods.”

I. A. Mikaheel, counsel for the claimant, argued that the Public Service Rules and the approval for his client’s leave of absence did not stipulate that such leave could be a basis for denying promotion.

Justice Damulak said in delivering judgment that “while promotion is not an automatic right, the discretion exercised by public authorities in statutory employment matters must be fair, transparent, consistent and in accordance with established rules.”

The court noted that “there was no written policy offered by the defendants that required a reporting officer to supervise an officer for four years before a promotion could be considered.”

The court also noted that no report of the promotion committee, recommendation or documentary rationale for the claimant’s exclusion was placed before it.

“I, therefore, find that the defendants were inconsistent and unjust in their refusal to consider the claimant for promotion after listing him as eligible for promotion,” Justice Damulak said.

The court also held that Abidemi had been promoted to Grade Level 16 while on leave of absence and was subsequently short-listed for the interview of 2025 creating a legitimate expectation that the leave would not automatically disqualify him from being considered for promotion.

The post National Industrial Court Orders Osun Govt to Review Promotion Decision appeared first on TheNigerian.

The dispute surrounding the alleged suspension of Rt. Hon. Eseme Eyiboh from the All Progressives Congress in Ward 9, Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has taken a judicial turn, following a suit brought before the High Court of Akwa Ibom State.

The complaint, marked HOA/12/2026 and filed at the Oruk Anam Judicial Division, was instituted by Prophet Edet Ben, an Ex-Officio member of APC Ward 9, against the APC and more than 20 people over the disputed suspension process.

The action came before Justice Nkereuwem M. Obot on May 14, 2026, following charges by the plaintiff that his identity was unlawfully exploited in documents relating to Eyiboh’s claimed suspension.

In a sworn affidavit, Ben denied participation in any ward meeting convened on April 22, 2026, to decide on disciplinary action against Eyiboh. He further denied backing any suspension procedures and said that his identity and signature were forged on attendance records and related documents disseminated to party authorities.

Among those involved in the suit are Johnny Nsoh, Comfort Okon Sunday, Ndifreke Warrie, Hon. Iniedehe Ibok, Sunday Ben and numerous others from Ward 9, Esit Eket LGA.

Court records showed that the plaintiff was represented by lawyers, but several defendants appeared through legal representatives.

Although the entire terms of the court’s interim decision were not immediately obvious from the document our reporter received, but the development appears like an escalation of the internal APC debate from party-level disciplinary controversy to active litigation.

The disputed suspension, apparently issued by a section within the ward, accused Eyiboh, Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, of anti-party activities.

The action, however, has prompted condemnation from party stakeholders and grassroots supporters, who questioned why Eyiboh was targeted despite his known mobilisation efforts in support of President Bola Tinubu, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno.

The development has further intensified internal tensions within the APC in Esit Eket, as supporters and stakeholders continue to challenge the validity of the suspension process.

The post APC Crisis Deepens As Exco Member Alleges Forgery In Eyiboh Suspension appeared first on TheNigerian.

A former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva who is now at large has sunk deeper in trouble with the Nigerian authorities as investigations around him has taken another level.

This is as Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the interim forfeiture of nine properties traced to the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources to the Federal Government.

The judge made the order after counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Oluwaleke Atolagbe, moved an ex parte motion.

Justice Egwuatu gave the ruling on April 24, while the enrolled order was seen on Wednesday, May 6, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Sylva was recently mentioned in an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The affected assets are in high value areas across Abuja.

They include four blocks of terraces at Dakibiyu; a duplex with penthouse and office complex at No 3, Niger Street, MStreet; one standalone duplex at Villa 1, Unit 1, Palm Springs Estate, Mpape; and a block of flats with 10 units of flats at No 8, Sefadu Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

Others are blocks of flats with six units of flats at No. 1, Mubi Close, Garki, Abuja; two blocks with 12 units of flats at Plot 1181, Thaba Tseka Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja; one standalone duplex at No. 18, Nile Lake, Plot 1271, Maitama, Abuja;

The ninth property is a two block building occupied by National Information Technology Development Agency and is located at No. 5, Aguta Street, Garki, Abuja.

The judge said: “It is hereby ordered as follows: An interim order is made by this honourable court forfeiting the properties listed in the schedule attached herein being properties suspected to be proceeds of some unlawful activities pending the publication and hearing of the motion on notice for final forfeiture order of the said properties.

“An order of this honourable court is made directing the publication of the interim order under order (1) above for anyone interested in the property to appear before this honourable court to show cause within 14 days why the final order of forfeiture should not be made in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Justice Egwuatu further granted the EFCC’s request that the order be published in any two of the following newspapers: Thisday, Guardian, PUNCH, Vanguard, Tribune or Independent Newspapers in seven days from receipt of the certified true copy of the order.

The judge then adjourned the matter to May 25 for a compliance report.

The commission made the application in suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/607/2026 under the relevant provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

Atolagbe who moved the motion, asked for an interim order forfeiting the properties to the Federal Government pending publication and hearing of the motion on notice for final order of forfeiture of the said properties.

He said the properties were suspected to be proceeds of some criminal activities.

The lawyer asked the court to direct the anti-graft agency to publish the order in any national newspaper for any interested person in the properties to show cause within 14 days why the final order of forfeiture should not be made in favour of the Federal Government.

The post Court Orders Interim Forfeiture Of Nine Properties Linked To Ex-Gov Sylva appeared first on TheNigerian.

The Obio-Akpor, Port Harcourt City, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Councils, together with their Vice Chairmen and Councillors, have been ordered by a Rivers State High Court to appear in court and explain why their elections shouldn’t be declared void.

Following the inclusion of Gift Worlu, the Chairman of Obio-Akpor LGA, and fifty-nine other individuals as the second set of respondents in a lawsuit brought by three Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stakeholders, Justice Stephen Jumbo issued the ruling.

Judge Jumbo granted the claimants’ attorney Glory Chizim-Chinda’s request for substituted service, directing that the court documents be served at the PDP’s State Secretariat on Aba Road, prior to postponing the case to March 17, 2026.

Regarding the nomination of PDP Chairmen, their deputies, and council members for the most recent council elections, the claimants, Enyi Uchechukwu, Wisdom Kalio, and Uche Amadi, are contesting the State factional PDP Chairman, Aaron Chukwuemeka, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, the PDP, and the Rivers State Government.

They contend that Chukwuemeka’s state executive, whose election was previously overturned by the Rivers State High Court, was not authorized to provide candidate names to RSIEC for the August 30, 2025 elections.

The plaintiffs are requesting a court ruling that the PDP’s Ward, LGA, and State elective congresses, which took place on July 27 and August 10, 2024, are void and that Chukwuemeka, as a result of these congresses, lacked the authority to hold primaries or submit candidate lists.

Additionally, they are asking for a permanent injunction that forbids the defendants or anybody working on their behalf from meddling in PDP internal matters, such as the nomination and presentation of candidates for elected office.

The post Court Orders Three Rivers LG Chairmen to Justify Legitimacy of Their Elections appeared first on TheNigerian.

Due to a purported ₦9.05 billion debt owed to Zenith Bank, the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, has ordered the freezing of accounts associated with Petrocam Trading Nigeria Limited and its principal, Patrick Ilo.

According to reports, Zenith Bank filed an ex parte application to preserve cash purportedly payable as of May 31, 2025, and Judge Chukwujekwu Aneke issued the interim injunction in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/393/2026.

Until the motion on notice is decided, the court prohibited the defendants, whether acting directly or through agents or representatives, from taking out, transferring, or using up to ₦9,057,511,855.63.

Targeting Bank Verification Number (BVN) 22141926401, which is purportedly connected to accounts Patrick Ilo used to conduct Petrocam’s financial operations, is a key component of the court’s order.

All financial institutions under the court’s jurisdiction were instructed by Justice Aneke to impose a lien or “Post-No-Debit” restriction on all accounts connected to the BVN.

Until the matter is settled, the order essentially stops the transfer of money associated with the BVN.

Additionally, the court ordered operators of vital payment infrastructure to adhere to the prohibition.

Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Interswitch Limited, and Interswitch Financial Inclusion Services Limited are among the organizations listed as responders.

The injunction is anticipated to be enforced throughout the banking network by NIBSS, which oversees Nigeria’s interbank settlement system and BVN database, while Interswitch and its subsidiary will expand enforcement to digital wallets and electronic payment methods.

According to court documents, Petrocam’s loan facility was subject to a number of requirements prior to disbursement.

The prerequisites included: A board resolution endorsing the facility; formal adoption of the facility by authorized business signatories; disclosure of current debt to other lenders, including pledged collateral and unpaid amounts

Additionally, Petrocam had to deposit sales profits and Sovereign Debt Note (SDN) subsidy payments into its Zenith Bank account from Oando Plc and/or TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc.

Zenith’s clearance of contract agreements and the provision of a five percent counterpart contribution for each transaction were additional requirements.

Petrocam was also subject to ongoing responsibilities under the agreement.

These included sending all import duty payments and Letters of Credit through Zenith Bank, submitting quarterly management accounts within 60 days of each quarter, and submitting audited yearly accounts within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year.

Additionally, Petrocam had to get complete marine insurance with Zenith named as the first loss payee, arrange Letters of Credit for petroleum imports, and produce supporting documents.

At Petrocam’s expense, the bank also assigned General Marine and Oil Services Ltd. to oversee product storage.

Zenith Bank was permitted under the conditions of the facility to satisfy maturing Usance commitments at 12% interest in the event that Petrocam failed to deliver money on time.

Additionally, the agreement stated that Petrocam would be responsible for any legal, recovery, and ancillary expenses resulting from any default.

Within seven days, the respondent institutions were required by Justice Aneke to submit an Affidavit of Return that included information about all accounts connected to the BVN, account balances, and six months of transactional history.

Additionally, the court authorized Zenith Bank to serve the defendants at their last known address in Victoria Island, Lagos, using alternative methods.

For mention, the matter has been postponed until March 17, 2026.

The post Court Freezes Petrocam Accounts, Directs Banks to Enforce BVN Restriction appeared first on TheNigerian.

Barrister Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has requested an order from the National Industrial Court to imprison the striking employees of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for allegedly disobeying court orders.

The workers’ disobedience to the court’s order stemmed from their decision to resume their strike in spite of the court’s January 27 order to halt it until the outcome of the lawsuit filed against them by the FCT Minister.

In order to show his disapproval of the workers’ disregard for the Industrial Court’s ruling, the FCT Minister secured form 48, a court document outlining the penalties for disobeying the order, and served it to the striking workers.

On behalf of Wike, legal expert Dr. Ogwu James Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) of the Bar and Bench Chambers in Abuja, secured form 48, which requires the employees to comply with court orders or face jail time as required by law.

Contempt charges would follow the “Notice of Consequence of disobedience of order of Court” form 48.

“Note that you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison if you do not follow the instructions contained in the order of Honourable Justice E. D. Sublimi of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria delivered on January 27, 2026.”

Mr. Olajide Balogun, the Industrial Court Registrar, signed the notice of consequences for disobeying the court decision dated January 29.

On January 27, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) employees were ordered by Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Sublimi of the National Industrial Court to halt their industrial action while the FCT Minister’s original summons was heard and decided.

The judge’s decision came after the FCT Minister, acting through Ogwu James Onoja SAN, requested a court order requiring the striking FCTA employees to resume their jobs.

The Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC) President and Secretary, Rifkatu Iortyer and Abdullahi Umar Saleh, were named as respondents in the lawsuit by the FCT Minister.

Justice Subilim had concluded that industrial action, including strikes, must be suspended after a matter has been referred to the National Industrial Court.

The court had observed, using Section 18(1)E of the Trade disagreement Act, that the suspension ensured the disagreement was appropriately resolved and that continuing strikes must cease at the initiation of an action by originating summons, which constitutes a referral.

The judge added that there could be consequences for not adhering to Section 18 of the Act.

He highlighted that the public interest in maintaining industrial peace surpasses any inconvenience created by postponing the strike.

Nevertheless, the employees have not yet respected or complied with the court’s ruling, four days after it was served to them.

The notice of appeal filed at the Court of Appeal against Justice Sublimi’s decision served as the basis for the striking workers’ decision to resume their strike, but Wike’s legal team dismissed the argument.

The Onoja SAN legal team argued that the workers have no right to resume the strike until there is a specific court order delaying the implementation of the Industrial Court verdict. They also recommended the workers to uphold the law in order to escape the wrath of the court.

“Court orders are not made in vain,” the senior attorney stated in the court documents. They must be followed in order for society to remain sane.

Recall that Justice Sublimi postponed the substantive matter until March 25, 2026, following the issuance of the restraining injunction against the strike action.

Due to what they called “unmet demands” by the Federal Government, employees of the Federal Capital Territory Administration and the Federal Capital Development Authority began an industrial action on January 19 and shut down operations throughout Abuja.

All FCTA Secretariats, Departments, agencies, Area Councils, and parastatals were impacted by the strike.

The post Court Orders: Wike Seeks Jail Term for Striking FCTA Workers appeared first on TheNigerian.