The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Imo State Council has hailed the high court judgment stopping the sale of the union’s secretariat located at Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, by a few individuals claiming leadership positions within the union.
In a press statement jointly signed by its State Chairman, Precious Nwadike, and Secretary, Ori Martin, the union expressed joy over the high court judgment delivered by Honourable Justice C.A. Ononeze Madu, describing it as a landmark judgment that restored the dignity and integrity of the journalism profession in the state.
“We have received with joy the impeccable judgment of Hon. Justice C.A. Ononeze Madu for setting aside an earlier judgment that gave ownership of the multi-million Naira Imo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat located along Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, to one Enedo General Services.
“The union is grateful for this landmark judgment and wishes to use this medium to thank every person who stood by us through these two long years of legal battle, given that journalists are development agents and not the false image created by the flawed perception of some morally compromised persons in the corridors of power,” the release stated.
The union recalled that those it described as persons with questionable elements, led by Chris Akaraonye and Ifeanyi Nwanguma, allegedly conspired with the immediate past national president of the union, Chris Isiguzo, to sell the union’s secretariat to one Enedo General Services without the knowledge and approval of the members of the union, who ought to have made such a crucial decision during a congress.
“The persons mentioned above initially deceived the court into delivering judgment in their favour through their false posturing.
“Thereafter, Enedo General Services, purportedly owned by a certain Anglican priest, unleashed all manner of primitive antics in his desperate bid to intimidate members of the union in order to take possession of their property,” the release revealed.
The union noted that Governor Hope Uzodinma of the state, during the two years the matter lasted, did not take sides, except for his commissioner for information, whom the union alleged supported and still supports those accused of creating a bad image for the union.
“We wish to also state categorically that, from the recent happenings, particularly with regards to how some occupants of our Secretariat (NUJ-4) were arrested by the police and taken straight to prison without arraignment and trial, even when the case for which they were whisked away was still pending in court and did not have any of the poor victims as plaintiff, defendant, or witness. Bundling innocent citizens who are struggling to make a living in a harsh economy into prison for doing nothing just because you can, is the depth of evil and unrivalled wickedness!
“It has become expedient, therefore, that the judiciary at this point should take definite steps to purge itself of corrupt and criminal elements who are relentlessly bent on smearing the image of judges and the entire judiciary. We make bold to state that we still have credible men and women as judges who are credible and honourable,” the release maintained.
The union appealed to the state judiciary to pay very close attention to those it termed as unscrupulous court bailiffs and clerks who may have found a way around the judicial process to perpetuate underhand deals, which it stated could be capable of denigrating the entire judicial system.
The union regretted that the magistrate who issued the order sending the NUJ-4 to prison without arraignment and trial failed to carry out due diligence to ascertain if the judgment brought to her for enforcement was in contest before granting her order.
“Going forward, we shall beam our searchlight on these unconscionable individuals, and in just a matter of time, they will face the music and will indeed have their day in court.”
It may interest you to know that some members of NUJ Imo State Council under the aegis of the Integrity Group went to court to challenge the sale of the union’s secretariat, and on December 4, 2024, a high court sitting in Owerri delivered judgment in their favour.
Among those filed in the suit were the immediate past national president of the union, Christopher Isiguzo, Chris Akaraonye, whose leadership as Chairman of the State Council was nullified by the court, and others.