Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, NICN, in Abuja has adjourned to February 23, 2026, for further mention in the case filed by Collins Dike against the Incorporated Trustees of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Ltd, and five others.
Dike, in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/308/2025, is seeking judicial interpretation of multiple provisions of the PENGASSAN Constitution (2022), including Articles 34.15, 16.2, 31.2–31.4, 16.5–16.9, 17.2, and 23.4–23.5.
He challenges the validity of actions taken by the defendants, particularly the alleged obstruction of elections into the PENGASSAN-Oando Branch Executive Committee and its five Chapters Executive Committees across Abuja/Lagos, Port Harcourt, OB/OB, Brass, and Kwale.
The claimant also seeks to determine whether the Central Working Committee, CWC, or National Secretariat acted within constitutional provisions when constituting caretaker committees currently managing the Oando Branch and its chapters.
He further questions whether individuals who were neither duly elected nor validly appointed can lawfully perform branch or chapter executive duties or receive check-off dues.
At last sitting, counsel for all parties were present; however, the legal team for the nine defendants from Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Ltd had not filed their processes.
Counsel representing the 1st and 7th defendants, PENGASSAN and its caretaker committee members, confirmed that their filings were already before the court.
Claimant’s counsel, Joseph Ekwueme, requested that the matter be transferred back to the Port Harcourt division of the court.
In response, the presiding judge, Justice O. Y. Anuwe, directed that such a request must be formally made to the President of the National Industrial Court, noting that the case would be transferred if approval is granted.
Justice Anuwe then adjourned the matter to February 23, 2026, for further mention.
