Nigeria’s apex court, the Supreme Court has been locked up by the striking Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) as its nationwide indefinite strike commenced on Tuesday.
The strike action declared to back up the union’s demand for full autonomy for the judiciary recorded a total compliance in all the courts in Abuja.
Among the courts put under lock and key are the Court of Appeal headquarters complex, and its Abuja division, federal high court headquarters, Federal Capital Territory high court complex and the National Industrial Court of Nigeria headquarters.
DAILY POST observed that as early as 6am, the Jusun Strike Enforcement Committee had stormed the courts and put their gates under lock and key with big chains.
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. Justice John Tsoho, the Chief Registrar, Mr Emmanuel Gakko and top management staff who attempted to resume work after the Easter holiday were politely turned back.
Lawyers and litigants and the general public were also prevented from accessing the vacation court.
Heavily armed security personnel were deployed to the courts to maintain peace and order especially miscreants from using the strike action to cause destruction to the property of the court.
At the time of this report the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad was in a closed-door meeting with leadership of the striking workers.
It was gathered that the CJN convened the meeting to rub minds with the workers and find a possible solution to the logjam occasioned by the strike action.
Ahuraka Issa, a Senior Special Assistant to the CJN on media and publicity strategy confirmed the meeting with Jusun leaders.
Marwan Adamu, President of Jusun led the delegation of the judiciary workers.
Details of the closed-doors meeting could not be ascertained yet but Ahuraka Issa expressed optimism that concrete decisions would be taken at the end, of which a press statement would be issued.
Adamu who was briefly sighted at the Supreme Court declined press interview, adding that assessment of the strike action will be made public later in the day.
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