…Threatens Legal Action
By Jude Atupulazi
The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Anambra State Chapter, Comrade Humphrey Nwafor, including his State Exco, has been warned to respect the judgement of a court that affirmed Comrade Chuddy Orakwue as the Anambra State Chapter Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), or be dragged to court.
In a letter addressed to Nwafor, titled, ”Need for Respect to the Rule of Law and Obedience to a Valid Judgement of a Court of Competent Jurisdiction”, the Orakwue-led leadership accused Nwafor of wilfully disobeying a valid court judgement by continuing to deal with the sacked State Executive Council led by Comrade Eucharia Uyawunne.
The letter, signed by Comrade Rtn. Ifeanyi Nworah, Publicity Secretary NULGE, Anambra Chapter, stated inter alia: ‘We wish to state categorically and unequivocally that if you and your State Executive Council do not retract and retrace your steps and toe the path of justice, fairness and equality by dissociating yourselves from the sacked Eucharia Uyawune-led faction, we will have no other option than to file and drag you and your State Executive Council personally, individually and collectively to court for committal proceedings. Be reminded that this letter serves as a pre-action notice and shall be transmitted to our legal team’.
Anambra NULGE reminded Nwafor about a meeting he convoked at the NLC Secretariat on June 19, 2025, where the issue of the NULGE crisis in Anambra was discussed, and how they articulated NULGE’s position in black and white, which was submitted to Nwafor, to the effect that the leadership crisis in NULGE Anambra State, had been resolved and settled by the judgement of a court of competent jurisdiction.
‘It’s also a matter of fact that the Anambra State Government has equally agreed with the judgement and accorded recognition to us.
‘However, it is amusing that you have vowed to disregard this judgement and have resorted to arm twisting antics against the Anambra State Government and hoodwinking the Head of Service (HOS) of the state. Please be reminded that the local government system is not under the HOS or the NLC. Local government workers under the auspices of Local Government Service Commission and NULGE are only affiliated to Central Labour where they pay 10% of check off dues.
‘The NULGE Constitution says ”Central Labour”; it did not say NLC, but you have been collecting this money illegally upfront for some time now. This your attitude and that of your State Executive Council of NLC Anambra State Council, are unbecoming and provoking, to the extent of undermining, inciting and disobeying a valid judgement of a court of competent jurisdiction.
‘It is on record that the crisis bedeviling/rocking NULGE, Anambra State Chapter, from 2019, was brought to an end on the 29th day of September, 2022, when the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, NICN, Awka Division, delivered judgement in suit no: (NICN/AWK/44/2019). 04/10/2025 IFEANYI NWORAH 07034220238 NULGE/AN/AD/08/35.
‘Consequently, instead of giving vent to the judgement, you and your State Executive Council connived with the non-existent and sacked persons claiming to be the State Executive Council of NULGE, Anambra Chapter, to disobey the judgement of the court and siphon the check off dues of the Union. It is also pertinent to note that you and your State Executive have no right to dictate or choose which NULGE to work with as there is only one SEC by the judgement delivered in this said matter. But if you think otherwise, please write down your disclaimer of the judgement and support of your prodigies and transmit to us,’ NULGE stated in the letter.
It said it viewed Nwafor’s actions not only as illegal, unconstitutional, and provocative, but unwarranted and contemptuous and could not be tolerated anymore, reminding him that as civil servants they were not above the law.
‘Soonest, the judgement of the NICN will fight for itself and maybe you will be brought before the court to defend your actions and opinions in the continued abuse of the court judgement, just rest assured of that.
‘To this end, we refer you to paragraphs 4 and 7 of the enrolment order which is an order of perpetual injunction against the judgment debtors who were the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants in the instant suit delivered by Hon. Justice J. I. Tageema, which sacked the faction of persons you chose to work with. The NLC as a group is also barred from according recognition to the defendants in the instant suit.
‘It is also on record that the Anambra State Government has taken a dignified position on this issue by obeying the judgement of the court to the extent that Comrade Chuddy Orakwue and his State Executive Council have been recognised as the authentic leaders of NULGE in Anambra State and one wonders why you are a stumbling block to a valid judgement of a court of competent jurisdiction. Is NLC and Comrade Humphrey Nwafor above the law?’ NULGE queried in the letter.
It warned Nwafor to be guided accordingly and allow wise counsel to prevail as suits had been filed at the NICN and the High Court, Awka, for the court to declare Chuddy Orakwue-led SEC illegal.
‘We invite you to join because we would not want you not to be carried along as an interested party,’ NULGE concluded in the letter.
