EIGHT YEARS AFTER: NUJ RIVERS STATE DISPUTE – JUSTICE BUHARI SANI TO DELIVER JUDGMENT ON MAY 4, 2026
By Emeka Amaefula
After more than eight years of intense legal battle, the long-running dispute between some members of the Rivers State Correspondents’ Chapel and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Rivers State Council is finally set to reach a critical milestone. Judgment in the suit filed by Akpekwu Christopher Imbufe & Ors v Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) & Ors, Suit No. NICN/PHC/04/2018, will be delivered by Honourable Justice Buhari Sani of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Port Harcourt Judicial Division, on Monday, May 4, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
The case, which was originally scheduled for judgment on Thursday, April 30, 2026, was adjourned to May 4 to enable the court to conclude proceedings in this protracted matter. The dispute originated from the controversial 2018 Rivers State Correspondents’ Chapel election, even though some accounts reference activities linked to the 2017 period.
Instituted in 2018, the suit was brought by Mr. Akpekwu Christopher Imbufe as Lead Claimant, together with the late Mrs. Bunmi Durojaiye, Mr. Philip Ezuma, and Mr. Chijioke Nwankpa. The claimants are challenging what they termed their unlawful exclusion from the 2018 chapel election, their alleged suspension for approaching the court, and the continued seizure of monthly allowances that ought to have been paid to deserving members of the Correspondents’ Chapel.
A major highlight of the proceedings occurred when Honourable Justice Buhari Sani granted the claimants leave to amend their court processes. This allowed them to introduce fresh claims concerning unpaid allowances, which are said to have accumulated to over ₦15 million. The additional claims specifically relate to the ₦20,000 monthly allowance allegedly payable to members of the Correspondents’ Chapel. Defence counsel had strongly opposed the amendment on technical grounds, but Justice Buhari Sani, in a firm ruling, held that the interest of justice must prevail over technicalities.
The judge stressed that no litigant should be prevented from presenting all relevant claims necessary for the fair and just determination of their case. He further reasoned that granting the amendment would not occasion any miscarriage of justice, particularly as the defendants would be afforded the opportunity to respond adequately. This ruling underscored the court’s preference for substantial justice rather than deciding matters on mere procedural technicalities.
The case has witnessed several judicial transitions since its inception. It first came before the late Hon. Justice Auwal Ibrahim, who sadly passed away in February 2018, shortly after the matter began. The suit subsequently passed through the hands of three other judges before finally landing with Hon. Justice Buhari Sani, making it a total of four judges that have presided over the matter at different stages.
At the heart of the dispute are fundamental issues bordering on the legality and fairness of the 2018 election process, adherence to the provisions of the NUJ Constitution, the rights of the claimants to participate in union activities, and their entitlement to accrued allowances. Over the years, the matter has generated considerable public and media interest, with reports of sharp divisions within the chapel. It also reportedly attracted the attention of the Nigeria Police Force at the Mile One Diobu Division in Port Harcourt, where complaints were lodged and statements taken from parties involved. However, no criminal convictions were said to have arisen from the police investigation.
Following a full trial in which all substantive issues were extensively canvassed by both sides, the court is now poised to deliver its verdict. The impending judgment is expected to provide clarity on the validity of the 2018 election, the obligations of the parties, the legality of any suspensions or exclusions, and the broader question of internal democracy and good governance within the Nigerian Union of Journalists and other professional bodies.
For the claimants and the defendants alike — including Chief Ernest Chinwo and other principal officers — the judgment scheduled for May 4, 2026, represents the climax of an exhausting eight-year legal journey characterized by repeated delays, multiple adjournments, and institutional challenges.
Many stakeholders hope that the final verdict will not only resolve the lingering crisis but will also help strengthen the Nigerian Union of Journalists by reinforcing the principles of fairness, transparency, and respect for due process in the conduct of union elections and administration.
———–Emeka Amaefula —-+234(0)8111813069—
