Members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Akwa Ibom State branch have raised the alarm over the unwarranted and persistent workplace victimisation, persecution and harassment by their president, Comrade Katale Ajah.
Some of the affected workers, who spoke to journalists in Uyo, the state capital, on condition of anonymity at the weekend, lamented that the alleged victimisation ranges from “causing a staff member, one Mr Nsikak Enang, to be detained by the Police from November 8, 2024, to November 11, 2024, on spurious allegations, and threats to ensure the employment of Mr Joseph Ekanem was terminated, among other things.”
It was learnt that Mr Nsikan Ned Enang, who is said to be attached to the Revenue Court, Ikot Ekpene local government area, is being detained by the police for what they described as a slanderous and defamatory publication on the WhatsApp platform of Equity MPCS of Akwa Ibom State Judiciary about the JUSUN president’s alleged illicit affairs with a senior staff member.
They also alleged that the JUSUN president is responsible for the many staff transfers, as he felt the workers failed to support him during the union’s elections last year.
However, Comrade Katale Ajah declined to speak on the allegations, stating he would not respond until the source of the allegations was disclosed to him.
“The petition is from who? I will not grant you the interview,” he submitted.
Members have also accused the union’s president of witch-hunting by using the influence of the top echelon of the judiciary and management to deal with any counter-opinion in the office.
However, Comrade Ajah, in his letter to JUSUN national president Comrade Marwan Adamu on November 12, 2024, which was made available to journalists, denied all the allegations and instead urged the judiciary management and the law enforcement agency to hold members who are expressing fears of victimisation responsible for any unpleasant circumstance that may befall them.
