Court Sacks Ebonyi RTREAN Chairman, James Igwe

By Ben Nworie 

A National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, has sacked the chairman of the Ebonyi State chapter of the Road Transport Employers' Association of Nigeria with immediate effect.

In a suit No NICN/Abk/08/2024, two applicants, Mr John Agbo and Chief Simeon Nweze through their counsel, D.I. Okwor approached the court to determine whether by the virtue of the judgement of the High Court of Ebonyi State delivered by Justice B.A.N Ogbu on May 2, 2023, the 3rd Respondent, James Igwe was still qualified to hold office as the chairman of RTREAN, Ebonyi State chapter of the South East zone.

The applicants also sought to know whether by virtue of Section 6(1) of the Code of Practice to the amended Constitution of RTREAN, 2013, the 3rd Respondent is not occupying office illegally as the chairman of RTREAN Ebonyi State chapter of the South East zone by virtue of his conviction for offences of conspiracy, forgery and impersonation 

In his judgement, the presiding Judge, Justice O.O Arowosegbe barred the 3rd Respondent, James Igwe from holding any office, particularly the one he occupies in the 1st Respondent, RTREAN, Ebonyi state.

Justice Arowosegbe ruled. "that 3rd Respondent, James Igwe is illegally occupying office of the chairman of RTREAN Ebonyi State chapter of the South East zone by virtue of the judgement of the High Court of Ebonyi State delivered by Justice B.A.N Ogbu on May 2, 2023 and by the amended Constitution of RTREAN 2013.

"That the 3rd Respondent, James Igwe having been convicted of offences involving conspiracy forgery and impersonation is no longer qualified under section 6(1) of the code of practice of the Amended Constitution of RTREAN 2013, to hold office as the chairman of the RTREAN Ebonyi State chapter of the South East zone".

"That the persistence printing of tickets by the 3rd Respondent on the behest of the 2nd Respondent after the judgement of the high court of Ebonyi State which convicted him on fraud, is illegal and same constitute contempt of court".

Justice Arowosegbe alao granted cost of N500, 000 against the 3rd Respondent alone and further placed him under the liability of paying back to the office any further emolument he made from the Ebonyi state chapter of RTREAN by staying back in the office after the judgement at 25% simple interest per annum until he vacates the office.