11/12/2024
BREAKING NEWS!!!
Razak Olusola Sotayo Remains MOUN President--Abuja Court Declares
From Idu Jude Abuja
An Abuja Magistrate Court Wuse Zone 6, has ruled that Alhaji Razak Olusola Sotayo remains the authentic National President of the Motorcycle Operators Union of Nigeria (MOUN)
In a landslide ruling, The Court sitting before Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna had ruled that it lacks jurisdiction in a matter filed by one Bobi Julius Oghenevwegba and nine others seeking an injunction to stop Alhaji Razak Olusola Sotayo, as the authentic National President of the Union, as the matter remains an inter- labor union crisis.
It explained that the case filed by comrade Julius O Bobi against the elected national president lacks substance, and the Magistrate can not overturn the decision made by the rank-and-file members of the Motorcycle Operators Union Nigeria.
The case was dismissed after the lawyer of the defendant argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter, His Lordship Chief. Emmanuel Iyanna then ruled that Comrade Rasak Olusola Sotayo remain the authentic president of the Motorcycle Operators Union of Nigeria.
Barrister Mohammed Adamu, who acted as the defendant in the matter, stated that the court remains the hope of the common man, adding that the court was able to strike out the case due to lack of merit.
Adamu said, "In Nigeria, there are laws that guide the issue of a trade union, which is moderated by the Trade Union Act. "In this case, the other party who is aggrieved instead of passing through the process of the law, which is going through the Ministry of Labour as contained in the Statute, now boycotts that and gets to the district court on a matter that is bothering on trade unions, knowing that the court lacks jurisdiction and also knowing full well that there is a punishment on anyone who contravenes the law.
By contravening that section of the constitution, they are to go straight to three years imprisonment and a 10,000 naira fine or both.
Adamu further stated that the plaintiff, who filed the matter approached the court and got an order expert for an Interlocutory application, which had said, that parties should maintain the status quo. " they went to several courts parading that they have gotten judgment and that they want to come and levy ex*****on to jail the authentic president but thank God today, that parties filed, an argument was taken and the ruling was delivered by the magistrate.
"The Magistrate, during the ruling, said that the court was a pure labor dispute and categorically stated that it was an intervention dispute and dismissed the case, including the earlier order that he granted based on the expert application was set aside and the case dismissed.
The legal practitioner said that the ruling cm Judgment does not warrant appeal because even the National Industrial Court does not have a locus. After all, it only entertains an appellate jurisdiction, which means that if there is a crisis among the unions, it has to be exhausted within the Ministry of Labour, which now recommends to the Industrial Court for further resolution on the ground that the Ministry was not able to do so.
Commenting on the wrong application of legal proceedings, he regretted the practice, which has become rampant among lawyers, stating that erring lawyers if being disciplined should sit up. "in this matter today, if the Judge has decided to punish the lawyer, for erring knowing full well the procedure, others would have taken correction next time but such won't even happen because such may encroach on the membership and rights of the Regulatory body like the NBA who punishes members, so the Judge can o lying recommend.
Speaking after the ruling in Abuja, the National President of MOUN, Razak Olusola Sotayo, thanked his supporters who stood by him through thick and thin and extended an olive branch to those who wanted him out of office.
Razak, who did not see anything serious in the matter, explained that the process was much of an academic exercise as the district court lacked jurisdiction over the matter.
He said that as a genuinely elected President, he leads within the mandate of those who elected him into office.
While admonishing members across the country, said that the Motorcycle Operators Union of Nigeria, which is a new body that oversees the activities of all commercial motorcycle operators in Nigeria, is doing all it can to ensure that the body remains united against the activities of bad eggs.
" I advise those erring operators to come back so that we come together to make the union work and in line with our slogan, 'we say, MOUN united we will win'. And we should be able to come together in a unified manner and make the union stronger in the country".
Meanwhile, the National President of the union has called Comrade Julius Oghenevwegba Bobi, to embrace peace and come over to build the body with his wealth of experience.
" it is without a doubt in his capacity that he becomes Chairman of the Elders forum in the union, and I am ready to work with him if he decides at any time to come close to joining the ranks with me in building the union to enviable heights." He said.