Sack of LAUTECH staffs: Aregbesola’s counsel absent as court fixes hearing date

Lateef Dada

Absence of Counsels to Osun state government on Tuesday April 12, 2016 stalled continuation of the case instituted by a Human Rights lawyer against Governor Rauf Aregbesola over alleged plan to sack about 678 staffs of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH.

The Chief Judge of Osun state, Hon Justice Adepele Ojo has thereby reserved the hearing till May 16, 2016.

A Human Rights lawyer, Kanmi Ajibola had dragged the state government, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, and LAUTECH, to the high court over alleged plan to sack some staffs of the hospital.

When the case came up on Tuesday, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Ashir Abioye, informed the court that the respondents have not replied the processes served on them.

He said the respondents have less than 24hours to respond to the interlocultory injunction and they have some days to respond to the summon notice.

The plaintiff, Ajibola, is seeking a declaration of the  court  to restraint the state government; the governor and the hospital’s board from   suspending or sacking the workers.

The plaintiff is praying  the court for, “A declaration that the composition of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital Management Board  is not in compliance with the provision  of the law and as such can’t lawfully implement any recommendation from the Osun State Government to wit, sacking of 678 staff of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital.

“An order of the court restraining the defendants from acting on or implementing the recommendations contained in the White Paper on the report of the Accounting firm of Messrs. Isaac Olumuyiwa Makinde and Co. Published in Osun State of Nigeria Gazette No 1 vol 26 dated the 14th Fay of January, 2016.”

The case which was instituted against the state government and Governor Rauf Aregbesola, also joined LAUTECH as the third respondent.