The National Industrial Court in Lagos on Monday adjourned a suit against the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria over breach of rights till November 17.
Two claimants, John Nwanosike and Jonathan Omare, had initiated the suit against the defendant through the chambers of Festus Keyamo and Co, for alleged breach of their rights.
Joined as defendants in the suit are PENGASSAN; its Chevron branch, Frank Esanubi; and Ayanate Kio.
The claimants, who are members of the Chevron Branch of the association, are seeking an order restraining the defendants from holding delegates’ conference, pending the determination of the suit.
At the resumed hearing of the case, Justice Kenneth Amadi adjourned the suit, following an application filed by the claimant’s counsel, Festus Aifeyodion, to amend his processes before the court.
Defence Counsel, Sola Iji, frowned at the request for adjournment, arguing that he had expressed hope that progress would be made in the suit.
The judge, however, adjourned the case to enable parties to regularise.
In their affidavit, the claimants averred that they were duly elected delegates to the PENGASSAN conference, adding that their tenure was valid for a term of three years.
They averred that the defendants canceled their names as delegates before the expiration of their tenure, thereby denying them the right to vote and be voted for at the conference.
The claimants averred that in a bid to also prevent them from exercising their franchise, the second and third defendants set up a disciplinary committee to try them after they expressed fear that their rights were been trampled.
According to them, the panel declared them guilty even when there was no evidence against them as to committing any offence.
The claimants, therefore, seek a declaration that the removal of their names as delegates to the zonal conference and national conference was unconstitutional.
They also seek an order mandating the defendants to include their names as delegates and an order of perpetual injunction restraining them from holding the conference until the illegality occasioned by their removal was redressed.
Amadi had on June 23 issued an interim order restraining PENGASSAN from holding its conference until the suit was determined.
The court had then adjourned the suit for hearing of the motion.
The claimants had first commenced the suit before a Federal High Court in Lagos but had had to file a notice of discontinuance, following an objection raised by the defendants.
The defendants had challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to hear the suit, which they claim was labour-related.
Consequently, the claimants instituted a fresh suit before the NIC, by way of ex-parte application, seeking similar reliefs.