The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its refusal to respect what it describes as “frivolous injunctions” issued by judges who allegedly carry out the bidding of the executive branch.
The NLC has raised concerns regarding the frequent issuance of such injunctions, which have restrained the Congress from freely protesting against unfavorable government policies and exercising their rights.
In a statement released on Friday in Abuja, Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, called on both the Supreme Court and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to take action and sanction judges who engage in this behavior.
Ajaero emphasized that the NLC’s right to protest and express discontent, as provided for in various legal instruments including ILO Conventions, the Trade Union Act, the Trade Dispute Act, the 1999 Constitution, and the African Charter on Human Rights, is being compromised.
The NLC cited a recent example, specifically the order issued by Honourable Justice O.Y. Anuwe in Suit No: NICN/ABJ/158/2023, which restrained the NLC from protesting against the significant increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
The Congress considers the frequency of such injunctions to be an abuse and violation of the Supreme Court’s pronouncement against the frivolous use of ex parte orders.
Furthermore, the NLC views these injunctions as a violation of the aforementioned laws and an infringement on their rights to lawful assembly and free speech.
The Congress expressed concerns about judges who allegedly bend backward to accommodate the wishes of the executive branch by granting these frivolous injunctions, which they refer to as “black market injunctions.”
The NLC warns that the prevalence of these black market injunctions poses a significant risk to the judiciary’s reputation, as it may result in the judiciary being ignored.
The Congress believes that compromised judicial officers within the judiciary itself pose the greatest threat to its integrity.
As the NLC takes a firm stance against frivolous injunctions, it remains to be seen how the Supreme Court and the National Judicial Council will respond to these concerns and whether any actions will be taken to address the issue.
