The President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, NICN, Justice Benedict Kanyip, has justified why the Owerri Division of the court remained shut for over five months.
He said the Owerri branch of the court was shut down to safeguard the life of both the resident judge and staff of the court in Imo State.
Justice Kanyip spoke at a special court sitting the NICN held to mark its 2022/2023 legal year.
It will be recalled that the court which has the exclusive jurisdiction to handle matters relating to any labour, employment, trade unions, industrial relations, and matters arising from the workplace, had on June 4, ordered the closure of its division in Imo State, following an attack and abduction of three of its staff members.
The court had in a statement that was signed by its Chief Registrar, Mr. Olurotimi Williams Daudu, directed all staff of the judicial division to “stay away from work until further notice.”
Speaking on the issue yesterday, the NICN President, Justice Kanyip, said the decision was taken, “when the safety of the resident Judge and staff could no longer be guaranteed”.
He said: “It is unfortunate that the division is still shut down given that we are yet to receive the security guarantees that we asked for.
“I acknowledge that all persons of goodwill in the state including the local and national Bar Association have appealed to us to have the division reopened. We are giving these appeals serious consideration. Once we agreed on the parameters for reopening the division, we will do that”.
Besides, Justice Kanyip, said the court performed well in the last legal year, though he expressed concern that the court’s arbitration mechanisms were not being utilized.
