Daily Independent Online.
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Friday, June 11, 2004.
Obey court order, NBA tells FG, NLC
•Industrial action paralyses court activities in
Lagos
By Victor Efeizomor,
Law Repoter
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has warned the
Federal Government to revert to the old pump prices of petroleum products as directed by an
Abuja High Court, saying any action to the contrary would amount to contempt of
court.
NBA also called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)
to reconsider its position in the on going strike in line with the decision of
the court as it was necessary for both parties to obey the order of the court.
“There is an existing court order which both
parties must obey as anything outside this will amount to contempt of
court,” it said.
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice
Roseline Ukeje, had ordered both the NLC and the Federal Government to comply
with its earlier order of February 9 2004 in which it ruled that both parties
should revert to status quo.
The secretary General of NBA, Mr. Dela Adesina, who
spoke with Daily Independent, on Thursday, said so far the strike embarked upon by NLC has
been nothing less than successful as the action has brought about the court
decision, which ordered the Federal Government to revert to the old pump prices
of N38 per litre of fuel.
“You cannot say that the strike is not successful, as I an talking
to you now, not a single staff is in my offices, nobody came to work and I
believe its like this in every other offices nationwide,” said Adesina.
However, the nationwide strike, which started last
Wednesday, has gradually taken its tool on all the courts in Lagos State, as
legal and commercial activities
at both Lagos and Ikeja Courts has been brought to a halt.
When Daily Independent visited the court premises at
Lagos and Ikeja High Court respectively, the ever busy places have been
deserted in compliances to the strike action as there were no lawyers,
litigants and visitors, neither was there court workers nor the court touts who
usually stand by the entrance gate soliciting for customers for one business or
the other.
All the courtrooms and the offices were under lock and key
as only security men were seen in the premises keeping close watch over very
few visitors that come in and out of the court premises.
