From Yakubu Busari,Jos
100 staff of the Plateau Radio and TV station have accused their counsel of mismanaging the N107 million paid into his account as ordered by the Industrial Court in their 2016 suit against the state government for unlawful dismissal.
Former Governor Jonah David Jang had ordered the unlawful disengagement of the station’s workers who were reinstated by the succeeding Governor Simon Bako Lalong in 2016 and paid the N107 million as part payment in an out of court settlement agreed by both parties. The total amount due the staff is N181 million.
According to the Plateau Radio and Television Cooperative, PRTVC, Barr Gideon Ngwen, Esq, their counsel is now playing a double game with them.
They say they are yet to see half of the money said to be still hanging in the custody of the counsel.
According to aggrieved staff, Barr Ngwem had been telling them for the past four years that he would only start disbursing the money after the state government had finished paying the full amount.
However, not satisfied with his explanation, some of the staff began to entertain the fear that if they did not take urgent steps he might end up squandering the money.
In the event, they decided to drag him before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, accusing of fraud. They also petitioned the state chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA.
Barr Gideon’s Ngwen in a swift reaction has approached the Federal High Court, Jos Division praying the court to stop his clients from filing a case with the EFCC against him. He is claiming N200 million as damages against the defendants.
Barr Ngwen who represented himself at the Federal High Court in Jos told presiding Justice Dorcas Agishi that the staff numbering 100 at the 2016 Industrial Court, Jos, suit, had written a complaint to NBA disciplinary committee, which he claimed has already exonerated him.
Investigation however shows that Barr Ngwen was actually invited by the local NBA to face a committee penal on the matter but he gave no firm commitment on how he intends to disburse the money to his clients.
The court has adjourned the matter to July 23, 2020 for hearing of the application.
