ASCSN Face-Off: Human Rights Group Backs ASCSN Leadership As Court Affirms Bola-Audu As Union President …. Lauds IGP,Lagos CP As The Group Calls On Buhari To Call Ngige To Order

A human rights organization,the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has thrown its weight behind the leadership of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) as the Industrial Court,Lagos division, affirmed Comrade Innocent Bola-Audu as the authentic Preisdent of the Union.

This was contained in a judgement delivered by Hon. Justice R.A. Guandu,in a Suit N0: MICN/LA/242/2022.

The Federal High Court Bwari,Abuja Judicial Division, presided over by Hon. Justice O. A. Musa,in a Suit N0: FCT/HC/ BW/M/201/2021 on a Motion on Notice that all the parties in the Suit should maintain’Status Quo’pending the hearing of the Motion on Notice which has been filled and to be served on all the Respondents alongside the Court Order.

The Federal High Court also directed the Respondents are to show the cause on why the relief sought by the Applicant shall not be granted and the aforementioned four people alleged of fraud, violated the order which tantamount to contempt of Court.

ASCSN,an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has been engulfed in a crisis over an allegations of 10billion fraud against the officials of the Union where the Bola-Audu leadership wants the security and financial crimes agencies to investigate the alleged N10 billion fraud but those alleged of the fraud were planning to forcefully took over the leadership of the Union as part of cover-up to stop the investigation into the alleged fraud.

The members of the Union,had protested to the Bola-Audu led Union over the alleged 10 billion fraud levelled against Mr. Alade Bashir Lawal,the Secretary General of ASCSN, alongside the Deputy Secretary of the Union, Josua Apebo, the Union’s Chief Accountant,Fatai Akorede,Mrs. Funmilayo Victoria Salami,the Chief Typist of the Union and Tommy Etim Okon.

Earlier,a staff member of the Union, Michael Iriah Ehimen ,had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through a letter dated 28th of May,2021, reporting the alleged N10 billion fraud against Bashir Lawal and his partners in crime.

Others fingered in the alleged fraud were; Comrade Boboi Kegama, former President of ASCSN and Comrade Asani Dinatu Asibi,the immediate past Treasurer of the Union.

It was learnt that the four of them were also arrested and detained by the Police Alagbon Force Criminal Investigation Department in Lagos over alleged N10 billion fraud.

It added that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police on the instruction of Inspector General of Police(IGP) had sealed off the Union Secretariat located at Yaba area of the State during the week in order to forestall any breaking down of law and order.

CHRSJ, in a signed statement by its Executive Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman and copies were made available to newsmen at the weekend,he cautioned Bashir Lawal and his team to stop disrespecting the order and judgement of Court on the subject matter.

While commending the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Baba Usman Alkali and Lagos State Commissioner of Police for their prompt action on the subject matter,Comrade Sulaiman called on the anti-graft agency(EFCC) to commence their investigation into alleged N10 billion fraud levelled against some of the officials of the Union.

He advised the Police to arrest the self imposed Bashir Lawal and his team for criminal conduct with possible prosecution, urging the Inspector General of Police(IGP) to call one DC Ronke Okunade of Administrative Department,FCIID,Ikoyi,Lagos,Supol Ayeni,a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in-charge of Yaba Divisional Police Station and Alkali Sulaiman with officers of NAPTIP to order , have been the tools being used by the so-called suspects to victimize Comrade Innocent Bola-Audu and his team over frivolous allegations and trump-up issues. Sulaiman,who doubles as Convener, Save Lagos Group (SLG), urged the President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige to order by stopping giving unnecessary support to fraudulent Bashir Lawal and his team.

Signed:

COMRADE ADENIYI ALIMI SULAIMAN(Revolutionary Alfa)Executive Chairman, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ)+2348038591504 / +2348022697573