Justice A Aderemi of Oyo state High court in Ibadan has ordered the Nigerian Union of Journalist , Oyo state chapter to pay a sum of N3.5M damages to the Proprietor of Soular Interbis Adeoye, Aderinwale for unlawful and forceful ejection from the NUJ Guest House.
The claimant had enter into a joint venture in 2005 where in it was agreed that all properties brought in by soular interbis would be revert to him at the end of the contract but in 2011, NUJ served the company a letter compelling him to hands off running and management of the guest house.
Soular interbiz through his lawyer, Barrister Yemi Giwa file an application against the union , joining the former secretary of the Union, Mr Rotimi Babalola and Former v ice Chairman of the Union Mr. Lanre Ladapo as defendant .
The lawyer demanded N5m as for general damages suffer by his client ( claimant ) from the unlawful threat b y the defendant to forcefully eject the claimant from the property.
NUJ Lawyer, Barrister Steven James counter the claims saying that Soular Interbiz was not forcefully ejected but ask to leave when the contractual agreement between the company and the Union expires.
Prosecution witness of the claimants includes, Wale Ojo Lanre , a former chairman of the Union and Lekan Rahman a staff of soular interbiz while the defendant witness includes: Cosmas Oni, Vice president NUJ B Zone , Gbenga Opadotun, Former chairman Nigerian Union of Journalists and Alaji Bolaji Kareem Coordinator International Institute of Journalism IIJ and a Union leader.
Items brought by Soular interbiz includes 10 West Point Air conditioner, 10 LG TV set, 5 wooden bed, 9 foams 9×9, 3 , 6×7 foams, five wooden stoods, 1 DSTV decoder and dish, 1 wooden mobile wardrobe , 10 blanket, 10, wooden TV stand, All window blinds and Racks, 2 large TV set, 3.5 Kva generator, Pillow and bEdding.
While the NUJ claims that there was no contractual agreement that state such decision between NUJ and Soular Interbiz, Mr Wale Ojo Lanre, former chairman of the Union who served as one of the prosecution witness for NUJ told the court that he signed the contract for soular interbis and it was agreed that the properties contributed by the claimant would be removed at the expiration of his contract .
While discussing the development at the congress held on 23rd march at Dapo Aderogba Hall, NUJ press centre, the union chairman, comrade Adewumi Faniran said the council lawyer , Barrister Steven James is still reviewing the judgement and he will advise them on the next line of action
