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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><u><span style="font-size:12.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">REPRESENTATION</span></u><span style="font-size:12.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Adebowale Adenigbagbe & E. O. Oke for the Claimant.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Olu Adegboye for the 1st - 3rd Defendants<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Adeniyi Pokanu for the 4th & 5th Defendants<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><u><span style="font-size:12.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><u><span style="font-size:12.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p></span></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Claimant approached this Court on 30/6/15 via his <i>General Form of Complaint </i>and sought the following reliefs -<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1. <b>A Declaration </b>that the arrest of the Claimant by the Defendants sometimes in April 2015 was illegal, unlawful and a gross violation of the Claimant's Fundamental Human Rights as protected and guaranteed by the provisions of the <i>Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999</i>, as amended.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">2. <b>A Declaration </b>that the action of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants while sitting in judgment in forcefully coercing and compelling the Claimant while in the detention facility of the 1st - 3rd Defendants to make an undertaking that he would refund the balance of =N=409,000.00 by the end of June, 2015, when the Claimant had not been adjudged guilty of any crime amount to usurpation of the powers of this Honourable Court and same is illegal, unlawful and a gross violation of the Claimant's right to fair hearing as protected and guaranteed by the provisions of the <i>Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">3. <b>A Declaration </b>that the threat of further arrest and detention of the Claimant and one Mr. Kelvin Agbebo (Claimant's Guarantor) and the constant threat of such by the Defendants when the Claimant have not been charged with any offence is a violation of the Claimant's Fundamental Human Rights as protected and guaranteed by the provisions of the <i>Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended</i> and of the <i>African Charter on Human and peoples' Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. 10, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">4. <b>A Declaration </b>nullifying the undertaking reluctantly made by the Claimant while in the captivity of the Defendants.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">5. <b>An Order </b>of injunction restraining the Defendants either by themselves or their servants, agents, assigns, privies, from further harassing or attempting to arrest or threatening the Claimant or the Claimant's guarantor of arrest based on the petition of the 4 & 5 Defendants.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">6. <b>An Order </b>awarding =N=5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira) exemplary damages against the Defendants wholly and jointly for the unlawful arrest, detention and psychological torture of the Claimant and infringement of the Claimant's Fundamental Human Rights as protected and guaranteed by the provisions of the <i>Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999,</i> as amended and of the <i>African Charter on Human and peoples' Rights (Ratification & Enforcement) Act, Cap. 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">7. <b>An Order </b>directing the 4th and 5th Defendants to accept back the remaining untold part of the goods in the possession of the Claimant and deduct that from the remaining balance of =N=409,000.00 (Four Hundred and Nine Thousand Naira).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">8. <b>An Order </b>directing the 4th & 5th Defendants to pay the Claimant outstanding 3 months' salary to the tune of =N=150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) owed to the Claimant.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The Claimant's <i>Complaint </i>was accompanied by statement of facts, witness statement on oath, list of witnesses as well as list and copies of documents to be relied on at trial. The 4th and 5th Defendants entered an appearance on 30/7/15 and also filed their statement of defence together with all the processes as required by the Rules of Court.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Having perused all the processes filed, the Court on 24/2/16 directed learned Counsel on either side to address it on whether or not it has jurisdiction to hear and determine this case.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The 4th and 5th Defendants filed a written address on 27/4/16 in response to the direction of the Court. In it learned Counsel argued that Section 46 of the Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended confers on the High Court original jurisdiction to entertain matters of enforcement of fundamental rights as guaranteed both under the Constitution as well as under the <i>African Charter on Human and peoples' Rights. </i>Learned Counsel cited <i>Nigerian Navy v. Garrick (2006)4 NWLR (Pt. 969) 69 at 75-78. </i>Counsel submitted further that the jurisdiction of other Courts in respect of question of fundamental right is special, secondary and can only arise in very limited circumstances and that a limited jurisdiction is conferred on the National Industrial Court in this respect by Section 254C(1)(d), <i>Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended; </i>that the arrest and detention of the Claimant on allegation of having committed the offence of stealing by conversion is not covered by section 254C(1)(d) of the Constitution; that the complaint of the Claimant is against administrative action of the Police which action took place more than a month after cessation of employment relationship between the Claimant and the 4th & 5th Defendants and which falls squarely within the realms of fundamental rights which ought to have been commenced either at the State High Court or the Federal High Court. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Learned Counsel added that section 254C(1)(d) of the Constitution as amended only allows the National Industrial Court to interpret and apply the provisions of Chapter IV of the Constitution whenever it rears its head while exercising its original jurisdiction as conferred by section 7 of the <i>National Industrial Court Act, 2006.</i> Finally, learned Counsel submitted that this suit is not within the jurisdiction of this Court and therefore urged the Court to decline jurisdiction and dismiss same accordingly.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">On 4/5/16, learned Counsel to the Claimant filed a 5-page written address in which he urged the Court to assume jurisdiction of this case. Counsel submitted, citing <i>Garba v. FCSC & Anor. (1988)1 NWLR (Pt.71) 449, </i>that the Court should always see itself as a knight errant in a shining armour brandishing its sword to help the hopeless and evenly seen not to collaborate with forces that choke and asphyxiate the rights of the people thereby forcing them into limbo of disillusionment and frustration. Counsel argued that from the pleadings of the Claimant it is apparent that the events leading to this case arose out master/servant relationship between the Claimant and the 4th & 5th Defendants; that the fact that the Claimant eventually left the services of the 4th Defendant does not rub the Court of its jurisdiction, citing Section 254C(1), <i>Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended</i>. Learned Counsel cited <i>Adedoyin v. Governor, Ondo State (1983)4 NCLR 796 at 786 </i>and urged the Court to exercise its jurisdiction to hear and determine this case.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Learned Counsel to the 1st-3rd Defendants filed an 8-page written address on 21/9/16 and set down as a lone issue for determination -<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Whether the subject matter of this suit i.e violation of fundamental rights falls within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Arguing this point, learned Counsel referred to <i>Section 46(1), Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended</i>, as conferring original jurisdiction on the High Court in matters of enforcement of fundamental rights as guaranteed by the Constitution and the <i>African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (Ratification & Enforcement) Act; </i>that under the interpretation section of the applicable Rules, <i>Court </i>means <i>Federal High Court, or the High Court of a State or the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja </i>and that the jurisdiction of this Court over interpretation and application of the provision of Chapter IV of the Constitution can only be exercised when it relates to any employment, labour, condition of employment, environment and conditions of work, health, safety and welfare of labour. Counsel submitted that the administrative action of the Police which led to this case took place a month after the Claimant ceased to be an employee of the 4th & 5th Defendants and hence the action ought to be commenced at the High Court of the State or the Federal High Court. Counsel cited <i>Adamawa State University, Mubi v. Mustapha & Ors. (2014)50 NLLR (Pt. 165). </i>Learned Counsel urged the Court to strike out this suit for want of jurisdiction.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">I have read and understood all the written addresses of learned Counsel to the parties respecting the issue of jurisdiction. The sole issue for determination is whether or not this Court has the requisite jurisdiction to hear and determine this case. Jurisdiction determines the competence of a Court to adjudicate over a cause or matter. Usually the jurisdiction of a Court is conferred by a statute and once conferred a Court cannot act outside of the jurisdiction conferred on it. Jurisdiction is, as blood is to human and animals, the live wire of a Court. It is something upon which a Court of law rests in adjudicating in a matter. Since one cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stay there where a Court adjudicates over a case for which it has no jurisdiction every effort and energy invested is nothing but an effort in futility. See <i>FRN v. Olaolu (2011) LPELR-5012 (CA) </i>This is irrespective of the genuine intention and erudition of the Hon Judge.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The jurisdiction of this Court- the <i>National Industrial Court of Nigeria</i> is as conferred by Section 7, <i>National Industrial Court Act, 2006 </i>and Section 254C (1), <i>Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (Third Alteration)Act, 2010. </i>Essentially, the exercise of the powers conferred on the Court is in respect of labour, employment, industrial relations and matters connected there with. The enforcement of fundamental rights as guaranteed by the Constitution as well as the forum for the enforcement of same are as provided for under the same Constitution. In this respect, section 46, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) makes robust provisions respecting the powers of the High Court to hear matters relating to <i>Chapter IV </i>of the Constitution. The obvious intention of this provision is that it is only the Court so stated and conferred with jurisdiction to hear and determine matters of enforcement of fundamental rights that should continue to so exercise jurisdiction. Indeed, subsection 1 of Section 46 of the Constitution states clearly that ''Any person who alleges that any of the provisions of this Chapter has been, is being or is likely to be contravened in any State in relation to him, may apply to a High Court in that State for redress''. This Court, the <i>National Industrial Court of Nigeria </i>is not a Court so vested with jurisdiction as far as this case is concerned. Learned Counsel to the Claimant has urged the Court, citing <i>Garba v. FCSC & Anor. (supra)</i>, to see itself as a knight errant in a shining armour to help the helpless. In as much as the Court is disposed at all times to help the helpless, it can only do so within the power conferred on it otherwise a Court which should uphold the law will end up flouting the same law. On the state of the law, this Court has no jurisdiction to entertain the present suit brought by the Claimant and I so hold.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Finally and for the avoidance of doubt, I hold that this Court lacks the requisite jurisdiction to entertain this suit and same is therefore dismissed. I make no order as to cost.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Ruling is entered accordingly.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif""> </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.5pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif""> </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" align="center" style="margin-left:0in; mso-add-space:auto;text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.5pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">____________________<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" align="center" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Hon. Justice J. D. Peters<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.5pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">Presiding Judge</span><span style="font-size:48.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>