MWUN Dismisses Claims By Right Group Over 2001 Crisis

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has debunked reports on social media linking its leadership with the murder of Ganiu Muyibi and a less than six months old baby-Abraham UKHEFI, incident which took place in 2001.

The union also dismissed the allegation levelled against the President General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju led Maritime workers union of Nigeria by the SAVE CLIMATE AND DEMOCRACY NAIJA, saying that as at 2001 , he was not in the number one man of MWUN.

In a press statement made available to the public, the union said the malicious report emanated from the group , describing it as ridiculous to claim that the new leadership of the union led by Comrade Adewale Adeyanju was responsible for the incident which happened in 2001.

MWUN disclosed further that the group on Wednesday 19 January 2020 at the international Press Centre, 11, Dideolu Court, Ogba, Lagos, alleged that MWUN under rhe leadership of Comrade Adewale Adeyanju Abdulwaheed was involved in the murder of Ganiu Muyibi and a less than six months old baby-Abraham UKHEFI and a also the forceful take over in commando style of the union secretariat with armed thugs sometimes in year 2001 leaving many others injured.

According to the release by MWUN, the duo were allegedly killed as a result of attacks by Uziojie Ukamunna and his armed thugs against the police and the President General of the union at the time.

It added that the Comrade Onikolease Irabor-led executive and members of the union escorted by the Nigeria Police were attacked by Uzi0Jie Ukamunna and his armed thugs, in the ensuing confusion when one Ganiyu Muyibl, a member of the union was killed.

The statement reads, “We wish to inform the general public that Prof. Maurice Fagnon has a case to answer with the Nigerian Police and is not being prosecuted in any way by the Adeyanju led MWUN.

“Ordinarily, the Union would have ignored the content of the briefing but because of the group reference to Prof. Maurice Fagnon who the union is aware is being prosecuted by the Nigeria Police for alleged invasion of the union’s National Secretariat amongst others, the union is constrained to make the following clarifications.

“To start with, the union wishes to use this medium to dismiss the allegation levelled against the Adeyanju led Maritime workers union of Nigeria by the aforementioned group that as at 2001 Comrade Adewale Adeyanju was not the President General of MWUN.

“Comrade Onikolease Irabor was the President General and was duly elected as the President General, MWUN, at a special delegates conference held at women development centre on the 31st March 2001 midwifed by a Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led caretaker committee headed by Comrade Ivor Takor, then Treasurer of the NLC.

“The delegates conference was witnessed by the then Honourable Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity Chief Ojo Madueke, Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), among other stakeholders in the Maritime sector.

“After the conference, Uzoijie Ukamunna, the former President General of the union and his cohorts mobilized thugs and took over the union’ secretariat and its environs and attempted to prevent the new leadership led by Comrade Onikolease lrabor from assuming office.

“On the 1st of April 2001, the Comrade Onikolease Irabor led executive and members of the union escorted by the Nigeria Police were attacked by Uzi0Jie Ukamunna and his armed thugs, in the ensuing confusion one Ganiyu Muyibl, a member of the union was killed.

“The Union promptly reported the matter to the Police at Trinity Police Station. Consequently, Uzoijie Ukammunna and his cohorts were arrested.

MWUN said it was surprised when in 2017, eleven years later, the union under the new leadership of Comrade Anthony Nted Emmanuel was invited by the State Criminal Investigation Department in Yaba, Lagos for questioning based on the petition written by Professor Maurice Fagnon of Centre tor Human Rights and Democracy in Africa alleging that the leadership of the union was culpable in the killing of Comrade Ganiu Muyibi and Abraham Ukhefi.

The statement added that the matter was thoroughly investigated by the state C.I.D. and the case was torwarded to the oftice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). The DPP Legal Advice exonerated the then leadership of the union of involvement in the killing of Ganiu Muyibi and Abraham Ukhefi.

“However, not satisfied with the DPP’S legal advice, Professor Maurice Fagnon instituted an inquest at the Coroner court which is still pending.

“Professor Maurice Fagnon in his desperate scheming to destabilize the union, wrote a letter dated 23 May 2016 with Centre for the Defence for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa letter head to the associate President, Maritime Arbitrators on dispute resolution-Dr. Omogbal Omo-Eboh and captioned it invitation to a peaceful meeting to resolve the complaint of Comrade Uzoijie Ukamunna and his former executive, The said meeting was scheduled to hold on Tuesday May 31 2016 at 119, Osho Drive, Olodi Apapa, MWUN National Secretarlat,

“On receipt of the letter, the union sensing danger went to the Apapa Magistrate Court 1, to file a motion to restrain (1) Centre for the Defence of Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, (2) Professor Maurice Fagnon and (3) Uzoijie Ukamunna from assembling at the union’s secretariat tor any purpose whatsoever and the order was granted by the court and notice served to the parties accordingly.

‘In spite of the restraining Order of the court, Prof. Maurice Fagnon and others mobilized a large number of suspected miscreants and hoodlums armed with dangerous weapons and invaded the premises of the national secretariat and its environs.

“This prompted the leadership of the Union to send a distress call to the Nigeria Police formations around Apapa, and they promptly came to the union’s rescue. On arrival the Nigeria Police operatives arrested Prof. Maurice Fagnon and some of the thugs.

“They were later charged to court for disobeying court order, unlawful assembly, invasion of MWUN’S national secretariat, and wanton destruction of properties etc. This case is still pending in court.”

 

 

 

By Roland Ekama, Lagos