The Court of Appeal in Abuja has scheduled the hearing for 12noon on Thursday in the appeal filed by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) against the September 21 order by Justice Polycarp Hamman of the National Industrial Court directing an end to the union’s strike.
The court announced the schedule at Wednesday’s session during which it advised parties to explore amicable settlement options in resolving the dispute between them in the interest of the suffering students and the nation at large.
At the mention of the case on Wednesday, a member of the court’s three-member panel, Justice Biobele Georgewill sought the views of lawyers to the parties on his participation in the hearing of the case, being a brother to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Port-Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill.
Femi Falana, SAN (for ASUU) and James Igwe, SAN (for the Federal Government and the Minster of Labour and Employment) said they were not opposed to Justice Georgewill’s participation in the hearing of the case.
Falana subsequently told the court that he filed two applications on September 23 and 28, and applied to withdraw the earlier one.
Igwe, who did not object to Falana’s withdrawal of the application filed on September 23, said he was not served with the latter one.
Falana insisted that the respondents were served through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice on September 29, a claim the court confirmed.
Igwe then applied for time to enable him retrieve the application from the AGF’s office and respond to it.
Before adjourning, Justice Barka Hamma Akawu (who presided) and Justice Georgewill urged bith lawyers to show patriotism by working on amicable settlement.
Justice Georgewill said: ‘” The two of you should first sit down as lawyers, take a patriotic position and convey the position to your clients.
“There is time for everything, time for war and time for peace. As ministers in the temple of justice, we want the two of you, as Senior lawyers, to encourage and explore an amicable settlement of this dispute.
“In fact, we expect you to return to this court on Thursday with good news, that the dispute has been thrashed out and all the appreciation of Nigerians will go to you.
“So, talk to your clients to take the interest of the nation into consideration for the sake of our children. As you leave here, go and sit down and talk and resolve the matter.”
Responding, Igwe thanked the Justices for their advice and promised to explore the option suggested by the court.
Igwe said he had, before now, suggested such to Falana.
Falana, who spoke in a similar vein, said he had initiated a move earlier and added that he would be happy to do more to ensure an amicable resolution of the dispute.
(Nation)
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