DRAMA AS TWO LAWYERS ANNOUNCE APPEARANCE FOR PETITIONER IN 2024 KWARA NUJ ELECTION CASE.
The ongoing trial over the disputed July 31, 2024, Kwara State NUJ election took a dramatic turn on Tuesday at the National Industrial Court, Ibadan Judicial Division, as two lawyers simultaneously announced appearances for one of the petitioners, Saka Laaro.
Barrister B.D. Asanam, who has been represented the petitioners, Fadeyi Babajide of the Federal Information Chapel and Saka Laaro of the Correspondents’ Chapel, formally announced his appearance during the hearing.
However, confusion ensued when another lawyer, Abubakar Katibi, unexpectedly stood up to also declare his legal representation for Laaro.
The presiding judge, taken aback by the development, adjourned the case to March 4, 2025, instructing the counsels to reconcile and clarify the rightful legal representative for the petitioner.
At the previous sitting in November 2024, the defendants failed to appear in court, with their counsel, M.A. Bello, submitting a letter citing a concurrent obligation in another court.
This move fueled accusations from the plaintiff counsel who allege that the defendants are deliberately employing delay tactics to frustrate the legal process.
He claimed these tactics highlight the defendants’ lack of confidence in their defense arguing that the manipulative practices that allegedly marred the disputed election are now being extended to the courtroom, thereby destabilizing proceedings.
The dispute centres on allegations of irregularities during the July 31 election.
Petitioners, Fadeyi Babajide and Saka Laaro had accused the NUJ National Secretariat of violating constitutional guidelines, including altering delegate lists, employing an open ballot system contrary to the NUJ constitution, and allowing unqualified individuals to vote.
The petitioners, in case number NICN/IL/08/2024, are seeking the annulment of the election and a directive for fresh polls to be conducted in line with the NUJ constitution.
It would be recalled that, Saka Laaro collapsed during an unannounced visit to the chambers of Barrister Issa Manzuma, in company of the Kwara NUJ Chairman, Abdullateef ‘Lanre Ahmed who reportedly is pressuring Laaro into withdrawing his petition, ended with Laaro being rushed to an undisclosed hospital. He has since been absent from media assignments.
It would be further recalled the at a former Sobi FM Chapel Chairman and contestant in the disputed election, Dare Akogun, had accused Abdullahi Olesin, the Kwara State correspondent for Leadership newspaper, of interference in the case.
Akogun alleged that Olesin convened meetings with the petitioners’ legal representatives by visiting his chambers unannounced and employed subtle blackmail tactics to pressure the petitioner’s into withdrawing the suit, despite not being a party in the matter.
Meanwhile some union members have expressed concerns over these alleged tactics, calling for transparency and accountability to ensure justice prevails.
They argue that the delays and interference reinforce the claims of irregularities during the election and undermine the credibility of the NUJ in Kwara State.
