235 Sacked Workers: Court declines Chevron’s application for 21-day response

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Awka, Anambra State has declined an application by Oil and Gas Major, Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL to be granted 21 days to respond to a motion tendered by counsel to 235 workers who are demanding N23.5 billion as damage for perceived wrongful disengagement.

Counsel to Chevron, Akpomudje Albert (SAN) who was represented by a colleague who prefers anonymity prayed the Court to grant them time to file consequential amended statement of defence, but the Presiding Judge, W. Abali granted 14 days to Chevron with effect from Tuesday June 6 to respond to the amended prayer of the plaintiffs.

Counsel to the 235 claimants’, Chief V.E. Otomiewo, represented by Jarikre Dave had filed a motion for amendment of statement of facts so as to add other documents as well as seek the Court to grant motion for the substantive case to commence as against pretrial, whether or not the 4^th defendant, Hensteel Engr. & Construction Services Limited appears in the next hearing or not.

The Presiding Judge, W. Abali after listening to the Counsels, ordered that a hearing notice be served to the 4^th defendant, who has been absent since the case commenced and adjourned further hearing to July 17, 2017.

Our Correspondent reports that nine of the affected workers have so far died as a result of the untold hardship caused by their controversial dismissal, while a couple of them have relocated to their villages due to inability to meet up to daily responsibilities.

The disengaged workers were engaged by four of Chevron’s contracting firms: JOCECO Nigeria Limited, Pat Onosen Nigeria Enterprises Limited, Sanco Calaya J.V. Nigeria Limited and Hensteel Engr. & Construction Services Limited.

They are praying the court to compel Chevron and its four contracting firms to pay them damage of N100 million each, totaling N23.5 billion.

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