The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has initiated legal steps to have striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) committed to prison for allegedly defying a court order.
The move follows the workers’ decision to resume their strike despite a January 27 ruling by the National Industrial Court directing them to suspend the industrial action pending the determination of a suit filed by the minister.
Wike, through his counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ogwu Onoja, obtained Form 48, a “Notice of Consequences of Disobedience of Order of Court”, which outlines penalties for contempt.
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The notice warns that failure to comply with the court’s directive could lead to imprisonment. It was signed on January 29 by the court registrar, Olajide Balogun.
Justice Emmanuel Sublimi had earlier ordered the FCTA workers to halt their strike after the dispute was referred to the court, citing Section 18(1)(e) of the Trade Dispute Act.
The judge stressed that industrial actions must cease once a matter is before the National Industrial Court, noting that public interest and industrial peace outweigh disruptions caused by suspending the strike.
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Although the workers resumed the strike based on a notice of appeal filed at the Court of Appeal, Wike’s legal team argued that an appeal does not invalidate the Industrial Court’s order unless there is a specific stay of execution.
The minister’s legal representatives maintained that court orders must be obeyed and warned that continued defiance could attract contempt proceedings and possible jail terms.