From Yakubu Busari,Jos
The National Industrial Court sitting in Plateau State on Friday adjourned to the June 15 , 2024 for adoption of final written addresses in a suit filed by sacked workers of tertiary institutions against Governor Manasseh Mutfwang, the Plateau State Government and the Attorney General of the State and Heads Tertiary institutions.
In a suit filed by Nangot Bitrus and ors, the Claimant counsel Nantok Dashuwar vehemently refused the letter written by one of the counsel to the defendant seeking for adjournment to enable them attend the burial of late Hon.Justice Gyang Pam Sha, a retired , President of the State Customary Court.
The defendant’s absence in court and the letter written to the court was read by the clerk, which Dashuwar opposed.
Dashuwar told the court that the application is in violation of the provision of order 38(7) and rule 3 and that it won’t succeed because where a matter has been fixed as such the party would inform the court and parties involved within three working days .
However,the notice of the said burial, he said, was given by Chairman Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Barr. Izang Aware which the event had already taken place on the 6th Day of June,2024 and served on all members of the Bar .
According to him, ” the Chairman of NBA was even present in Court this morning during the proceeding so which the session yesterday was a ritual to all members.”
His second reasons given was that “the defendant counsel had no reasonable complaint because the Ministry for Justice and Office of the Attorney General of the state can’t blind their eyes that there is no staff that they shutdown their statutory function, their letter is not true and had no basis, which is frivolous misleading accusation.”
Justice S.I.Galadima on delivering ruling said issues had been joined so it is optional and he adjourned the case to June 15, 2024 for adoption.
Dashuwar said the government is aware that the matter came up for hearing today and even though he opposed the application, the jurist saw reason and adjourned to June 15 when he can deliver judgement after the hearing .
Dashuwar lamented that the absence of the defendants in court had affected the proceeding because ordinarily the matter would have been concluded today, but he expressed hope that after the hearing the judge will deliver judgement in the fixed June 25 date
He said,”The defendants are only trying to avoid doomsday as the continue absence during the proceedings .”
