A human rights organization, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), has thrown its weight behind the leadership of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) as the Industrial Court, Lagos division, affirmed Comrade Innocent Bola-Audu, as the authentic President of the Union.

Hon. Justice R.A. Guandu delivered the judgement in Suit N0: MICN/LA/242/2022.

The Federal High Court Bwari, Abuja Judicial Division, presided over by Hon. Justice O. A. Musa, in Suit N0: FCT/HC/ BW/M/201/2021 had while ruling on a Motion on Notice directed all the parties in the suit should maintain the 'Status Quo' pending the hearing of the Motion on Notice which has been filed and to be served on all the Respondents alongside the Court Order.

The Federal High Court also directed that the Respondents were to show cause on why the relief sought by the Applicant shall not be granted and the aforementioned four people alleged of fraud, violated the order which tantamount to contempt of Court.

ASCSN, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has been engulfed in crisis over allegations of N10 billion fraud against officials of the Union. Whereas the Bola-Audu leadership wants the security and financial crimes agencies to investigate the alleged fraud, the alleged suspects were planning to forcefully take over the leadership of the Union to cover-up and stop the investigation.

The members of the Union had protested to the Bola-Audu led Union over the alleged N10 billion fraud levelled against Mr. Alade Bashir Lawal, the Secretary-General of ASCSN, alongside the Deputy Secretary of the Union, Josua Apebo, the Union's Chief Accountant, Fatai Akorede, Mrs. Funmilayo Victoria Salami, the Chief Typist, and Tommy Etim Okon.

Earlier, a member of the Union, Michael Iriah Ehimen, had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through a letter dated 28th of May, 2021, alleging N10 billion fraud against Bashir Lawal and five others.

Others fingered in the alleged fraud were Comrade Boboi Kegama, former President of ASCSN and Comrade Asani Dinatu Asibi, the immediate past Treasurer of the Union.

It was learnt that the four of them were also arrested and detained by the Police operatives from Alagbon Criminal Investigation Department of the Lagos Police Command in connection with the alleged N10 billion fraud.

It learnt that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, on the instruction of Inspector General of Police (IGP), had sealed off the Union Secretariat located at Yaba area of the State during the week in order to forestall any break down of law and order.

CHRSJ, in a statement by its Executive Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman, cautioned Bashir Lawal and his team to stop disrespecting the order and judgement of Court on the subject matter.

While commending the Inspector General of Police, Baba Usman Alkali, and Lagos State Commissioner of Police for their prompt action on the subject matter, Comrade Sulaiman called on EFCC to commence investigation into the alleged N10 billion fraud levelled against some of the officials of the Union.

Sulaiman, who doubles as Convener, Save Lagos Group (SLG), urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, to order by asking him to be neutral in the matter.

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