The National Industrial Court of Nigeria , NICN Abuja on Monday, September 23, 2024 vacated its interim order stopping the inauguration of the new Rector of Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri Imo State, Dr. Basilia Igbokwe.
Following the development, Dr. Igbokwe would be inaugurated' on Tuesday, September 24, 2024.
However, sources at the polytechnic said what will happen is better referred to as public presentation of the new rector to the polytechnic community.
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According to the sources, Dr. Igbokwe was sworn in shortly after receiving her appointment letter on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.
Vacating the interim order, Justice E. D. Isele said the case file would be sent back to the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria to reassign it to a regular court.
He informed parties that the life of his vacation court would elapse on Wednesday September 25, adding that he was returning to the Federal High Court Benue State Division.
Justice Isele held that he could not take any further applications because he lacks jurisdiction to do so.
The Court thereafter made an order reverting the case file to the president of the NICN for reassignment to a regular court.
Before then, counsel to the claimants, Barrister Kingdom Okere had informed the court that the Governing Council of the polytechnic and Dr. Igbokwe have filed motions which the claimants are within time to file responses to.
A human rights group, Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International has dragged the President, Attorney General of the Federation, Minister of Education, Governing Council and Rector of the polytechnic as well as Dr Igbokwe over the emergence of Dr Igbokwe as rector.
It claimed the selection , nomination and appointment of Dr. Igbokwe as rector was illegal.
It requested that court to put on hold every effort aimed at enthroning Dr. Igbokwe as the new Rector pending the hearing of the motion on notice or final determination of the substantive suit.
Recall that the inauguration or public presentation of Dr. Igbokwe was shelved on Tuesday, September 17 owing to interim order of court.
Dr. Igbokwe who is of Department of Humanities, School of General Studies floored six other lecturers in a competitive screening exercise supervised by a former Rector of Abia State Polytechnic Aba Professor Okorie Kalu Osonwa.
