The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned to February 23, 2026, for further mention in the case instituted by Collins Dike against the Incorporated Trustees of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Comrade Sasi Dundas Alfred, Comrade Felix-Otaluka Ugochukwu (for themselves and on behalf of members of the Caretaker Committee of the Oando Branch of PENGASSAN), Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Ltd, and five others.
Dike, in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/308/2025, is asking the court to interpret several provisions of the PENGASSAN Constitution (2022), particularly Articles 34.15, 16.2, 31.2, 31.3, 31.4, 16.5, 16.5.2, 16.6, 16.7, 16.9, 17.2, 23.4 and 23.5. He is seeking the court’s determination on the validity of actions taken by the defendants, including the alleged obstruction of elections into the PENGASSAN-Oando Branch Executive Committee (BECOM) and its five Chapters Executive Committees (CECOM) across Abuja/Lagos, Port Harcourt, OB/OB, Brass and Kwale.
The claimant also wants the court to determine whether the Central Working Committee (CWC) or National Secretariat of PENGASSAN acted within constitutional provisions in constituting the caretaker committees currently administering the Oando Branch and its chapters. He further questions whether individuals who were neither duly elected nor validly appointed can lawfully perform the duties of branch or chapter executives or receive check-off dues on behalf of the branch.
At Tuesday’s sitting, counsels for all parties were present. However, counsel to 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.
The claimant’s counsel, Joseph Ekwueme, applied for the matter to be transferred back to the Port Harcourt division of the court.
In his response, the presiding judge, Justice O. Y. Anuwe, directed that such a request must be made formally to the President of the National Industrial Court. He noted that if approval is granted, the case would be transferred accordingly.
Justice Anuwe subsequently adjourned the matter to February 23, 2026, for further mention.
