‘Manipulated’ teachers’ recruitment: Court adjourns case to Nov in A’Ibom

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

Following the legal battle between Obolo Nation and Akwa Ibom State Secondary Education Board, the State High Court sitting in Uyo, on Thursday adjourned the case to November.

Obolo Nation consisting of Eastern Obolo, Mbo, Oron, Okobo, Urue Offong/Oruku, and Udunguko LGAs through their lawyer, Mr Sunday Afiko had approached the State High Court seeking redress from what they described as marginalisation which marred the whole process of the recent teachers’ recruitment in the state.

They sought the wisdom of the court to know the perimeters used by the state government in the last teachers’ recruitment exercise where a great number of Obolo people were not employed despite scoring high points.

Recall that in suit number HU/322/2, the defendants include; the Executive Chairman, Secondary School Education Board, Akwa Ibom State, the Secondary School Education Board, the Commissioner for Education, the Honorable Attorney General, and Commissioner for Justice and Akwa Ibom State Government.

Fielding questions from newsmen shortly after the adjournment, the Counsel to the Claimant, Mr Afiko said that “the court refused to grant our motion restraining the process by citing the mere fact near allocation the quota means completion of the process.”

He said, “we shall be testing the law and would also want the Higher Court to decide whether the near allocation of quota means completion in the process of recruitment.”

Afiko noted that the defendant ceded to the fact that they mobilized people to work without being issued appointment letters, stressing that the action negates the completion of the process.

He said that when the claimant filed the case in court the process was not completed and that is where there was a disagreement.

He noted that there was a clear case of injustice, adding that the court should remain the only hope of the common man.

The applicant’s lawyer noted that despite Court’s wisdom to engage the matter in an out-of-court settlement, the state government has refused to oblige.

While trying to get a reaction from the defendant’s lawyer, Mr Bassey Ekanem told the newsmen to “wait till next adjournment date.”

Meanwhile, the Court presided over by Justice Archibong Archibong has adjourned the case to November 10th, 2022 for the next hearing.