Hendrix Oliomogbe
The crisis rocking the Edo State council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has taken a turn for the worse as the Caretaker Committee has dragged the State Administrative Council (SAC) and the state government to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Benin over legitimacy.
In suit No NICN/BEN/2026 by Prof. Bola Adekanle, the lead counsel to the claimants, the caretaker committee chairman, Prof. Monday Lewis Igbafen (For himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee is challenging the legitimacy of the Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide led SAC.
Joined as co-defendants are Ireotoi Kingsley, Joel Idonijie, Ese Best Idahosa, Philomena Osabuohien (For themselves and on behalf of the dissolved council, Edo State Government, Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Edo State Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, Edo State.
Amongst others, Prof. Igbafen is seeking a declaration that the caretaker committee lawfully constituted by NLC on August 11, 2025 is the only legitimate authority empowered to run the affairs of the Edo State Council of the council pending the time fresh elections are conducted
The claimant is also seeking a declaration that the continued occupation of the council's secretariat at Teboga Road, off Ikpoba Hill, Benin City and retention of union assets, cheque books, bank mandates, vehicles, and records by the defendants is illegal, null and void.
Besides, the claimants also want an order of perpetual injunction restraining the first to fifth defendants, their agents, privies, or supporters from parading themselves as officers of Edo State Council of NLC or interfering with the functions of the claimants.
Continuing, Prof. Adekanle wants: "An order of mandatory injunction compelling the firsst to fifth defendants to hand over forthwith to the claimants: keys and possession of the second claimant’s Secretariat at No. 1 Teboga Road, off Ikpoba Hill, Benin City. All vehicles belonging to Edo State Council of the second claimant. All financial records, cheque books and all other properties of the council of the second claimant in their custody.
"An order restraining the sixth to eight defendants from interfering with the internal affairs of the Edo State Council of the second claimant or obstructing the inauguration/functions of the claimants.
"An order directing the first defendant to render a full account of all monies, dues, levies and donations received, expended or otherwise handle by him on behalf of the Edo State Council of the second claimant from the date of dissolution till date of compliance with the judgment of this court."
The petitioner is also demanding a sum of N50,000,0000 (Fifty Million Naira) being general and exemplary damages against the first to fifth defendants for unlawful usurpation of office, representation and acts prejudicial to the orderly administration of the Edo State Council of the second claimant.
He recalled that a meeting of February 27, 2025 at the National Executive Council of NLC dissolved the Edo State Council of the congress and approved the setting up of a Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the council pending the conduct of elections to fill up the statutory positions.
He averred that the Edo State Council of the second claimant was dissolved for; unethical behavior, anti-union activities and gross violation of the Constitution of the congress, noting that the first defendant purportedly removed the erstwhile chairperson of the Edo State Council of NLC without reference to the congress’ leadership and in the manner unknown to the union's Constitution and installed himself as the c LP chairperson.
Prof. Igbafen insisted that he and others were appointed as a 5-member Caretaker Committee by the NLC with effect from August 11, 2025 to run the affairs of the Edo State Council of the country congress until elections are conducted.
The claimant said that he thereafter wrote to Governor Monday Okpebholo and the Minister of Labour and Employment to inform them of the dissolution of the Edo State Council of the union and setting up of the Caretaker Committee.
He said that the leadership of the second claimant and the Caretaker Committee made several efforts to amicably resolve the crisis in the Edo State Council of the second claimant and that caretaker committee had on January 23, 2026 visited Senator Adams Oshiomhole and unambiguously called on him to intervene on the crisis but failed to keep his promise to intervene by engaging the governor on the matter and revert them.
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According to him, the leadership of the second claimant and the Caretaker Committee made several efforts to amicably resolve the crisis in the Edo State Council of the second claimant and that caretaker committee had on January 23, 2026 visited Senator Adams Oshiomhole and unambiguously called on him to intervene on the crisis but failed to keep his promise to intervene by engaging the governor one the matter and revert them.
No date has been fixed for hearing.
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