Court Nullifies PTD National Delegates Conference, Orders Fresh, All-inclusive Election

The delegates conference of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) conducted in Ibadan and Abuja which held simultaneously on the 31st October, 2023 has been nullified by the court. 

Hon. Justice O.Y. Anuwe, while delivering her judgment in Abuja on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 ordered a fresh and all-inclusive election.

The Judge also ruled that all suspensions and query letters against Comrade Lucky Osezua and his team which emanated from NUPENG secretariat and the illegal Chairman Augustine Egbon are null and void. 

The Court added that the General Secretary of NUPENG, Afolabi Olawale is not a member PTD and should act within the limits of extant rules.

Recall that, Augustine Egbon was elected PTD National Chairman in Ibadan whilst Comrade Lucky Osesua emerged in Abuja. Both union leaders have been laying claims to the supremacy and legitimacy of the seat since last year.

However, citing numerous legal infractions orchestrated by the leadership of NUPENG, especially the General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, PTD subsequently approached the court to seek redress. 

The Tanker Drivers also filed a contempt case against Afolabi Olawale for resisting an order of the court.

Counsel to PTD who filed the “notice of consequences of disobedience to order of court” before the National Industrial Court in Abuja also asked the court to slam appropriate sanctions on NUPENG to stamp its authority that law is no respecter of persons, adding that the Union has serially disobeyed court rulings with impunity and total disrespect for the temple of justice. 

Records also revealed the Court accordingly ruled that no national executives of PTD including Comrade Lucky Osezua, Comrade Gayyab Garga, Comrade Humble Obinna Power, Adebisi Akinlolu and others should not be sacked from office and that status quo should be maintained, but this was equally flaunted, yet Afolabi still authorised an illegal unit election which purportedly held at NNPC Port Harcourt refinery. 

This flagrant disobedience to court orders had created a serious crisis in PTD which till today is yet to be resolved. 

Attempts to get the reaction of the union leaders proved abortive as their phones were not connecting at the time of filing this report.