NUJ condemns Bench warrant issuance on national secretariat

Etim Ekpimah

The National Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists has condemned the bench warrant the court issued against it and officers over the conduct of Benue State Council election.

According to NUJ, the bench warrant came to them as a surprise for the simple reason that they did not breach any court pronouncement.

A statement by the union’s national president, Chris Isiguzo, on Friday, said as a law abiding organisation, the NUJ deems it fit and proper to state the facts as they are with its utmost respect for the court and the rule of law.

The statement said: “It is appropriate to state that  the NUJ and its leadership were never served any court process before the conduct of the election in Benue State on the 3rd day of July 2021, since the NUJ is not a meddlesome interloper.

“Specifically, the NUJ was served on the 9th of  July 2021 almost one week after the election was conducted and as  a responsible union which respects the constitutionality of the Nigerian courts, it sent a legal representation to the court on the next adjourned date.

“With all our actions and inactions, we are of the opinion that the bench warrant was not proper, unnecessary just as the ruling was a misdirected one.

“In spite of our reservations over this ruling, the NUJ will continue to pursue the course of justice with its firm belief in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.”

The statement added that as a legal entity, the union has instructed  its counsel, MAMMAN,  MAIYAKI & CO to take all legal steps to set aside the bench warrant and  to challenge  the ruling in the  Court of Appeal.

Isiguzo in the statement noted that the union urged  all its members to remain  calm and go about their normal  businesses  as they will be informed  of all events as they unfold.