Ekiti judicial workers join strike

By Gbenga Ariyibi
ADO-EKITI—The judicial staff in Ekiti State yesterday joined their counterparts in the federation to stay away from their duty posts.

But it was a drama of sort in Ado Ekiti yesterday as some workers in the State High Court, venue of the ongoing governorship election petition tribunal had resumed as early as 8 am in readiness for the day’s job when the State’s Chief Registrar, Mr Olusegun Ogungbemi ordered the staff to go home in conformity with the directive of the  Judicial  Staff  Union of Nigeria  (JUSUN).

Before the directive of the CR, counsel to the Action Congress (AC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), partymen and court registrars have arrived the court in anticipation that the tribunal would go on with the day’s proceedings.

Defending his action, Mr Ogungbemi said as the head of the administrative staff of the court in the state he would not want a break down of law and order within the court premises.

Ogungbemi argued that the state executive of JUSUN had been dissolved, saying the national secretariat of the body does not recognise any directive from the current caretaker committee put in place by the state wing of JUSUN.

“l don’t want breakdown of law and order, people should just go home and await further directive from the national secretariat of the body  on when the strike would be called off”, he said.

The action of the CR however, elicited negative reactions from the AC in the state, saying the state government must have directed the CR to  support the state so as to prolong the ongoing tribunal.

A statement by Mr Yemi Adaramodu on behalf of the party, alleged that Ogunyemi was doing the bidding of the state governor, Engr Oni.

In his reaction, the state governor through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Wale Ojo Lanre said “Oni could not have dictated to the judiciary staff not to join their other colleagues on the issue that affect their welfare”.