By Kenneth Atavti
Chief Sebastien Tar Hon, SAN, has dragged the National Assembly and three others before the National Industrial Court over poor salaries for judges.
Hon, the claimant, during yesterday’s proceeding had in his team of counsel 32 SANs referred to as learned silk and 22 learned counsel.
S.A Awomolo led the other SANs in the matter slated for mention before Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae.
Other counsel were Kanu Agabi, J.B Daudu, E.C Ukala ,Emeka Ngige, Rabana Lawan, Mike Ozekhome, Tawo Tawo, Hassan Liman, Peter Apeh, Ogwu Onoja, Offiong Bassey Offiong.
Others were Usman Sule, Olumiwa Akonboro, Emeka Ejiaba, Chukwuma Ekomaru, Godwin Obla, Gordy Uche, Anthony Malik, E.K Asiaka, F.K Idepefo, J.O Asoluka, Harris Ogbole.
S. Musa, Mose Ebute, Reuben Atabo, T.D Pepe, Alex Ejesieme, Henry Akunebu, A.T Kehinde, Ibrahim Bawa, J.J Usman, Matter Bukar and Audu Anuga.
Edward Erhinure led the team of 21 other lawyers in the matter.
On the other hand, joined as defendants are the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission ( RMAFC), Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and National Judicial Commission ( NJC), as second, third and fourth defendants respectively.
When the matter came up, Awomolo informed the court that all the defendants had been served with processes and that they were ready to proceed.
He however stated that the counsel to the first defendant, Charles Yiola had earlier in the court informed him of the possibility of settlement.
Yiola on his part submitted that the only document he had seen in the matter was the hearing notice they got in connection to yesterday’s court sitting.
The judge after going through the court’s record told him that proof of service of the originating summons served on May 6, 2022 was in the file.
Yiola further said that he had been told to mention to the claimant to be patient as NASS was ready to look into the matter for possible settlement.
Awomolo in response said that the matter was of national importance and not a matter to be adjourned and adjourned indefinitely.
He therefore urged the court for a week adjournment to enable parties to discuss, agree or disagree and come back to court for either report of settlement or hearing of the originating summons.
Yiola replied that a week was short as NASS was embarking on industrial action yesterday and he needed time to make a presentation to NASS for its adoption.
The judge therefore adjourned the matter until June 22, 2022 for report of settlement or hearing of the originating summons.
She also directed that a hearing notice should be served on the second, third and fourth defendants who were not in court, nor their legal representation.
The claimant in his statement of facts stated that he was called to bar in 1991 and elevated to the inner Bar in 2008.
Hon, SAN said he was aspiring to be appointed either a justice of the Supreme Court or of the Court of Appeal or at least a judge of the High Court.
