Self Employed Drivers Association, Abuja (SECDAA) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) are entangled in a legal battle over the control of the road transport sub-sector in Nasarawa State.
According to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY findings, trouble started between the two bodies, when the Nasarawa State Ministry of Transport and Urban Development called a meeting of stakeholders and declared the operations of SECDAA in the state illegal.
With this declaration, the NURTW through its Mararaba branch chairman (intercity services), Bernard Adeyi filed a suit before the High Court of Justice of Nasarawa State Judicial Division at Keffi.
The suit No. NSD/K20/2011 dated April 14, 2011 sought for four reliefs in an originating summons supported by a 12-paragraph affidavit.
After hearing the submission of Abubakar Kana Esq. for the plaintiff at the court session where the defendants were absent despite services of the court processes on them, the High court judge, Justice R.M Abdullah granted the four prayers sought.
It thus restricted the SECDAA to operating within Abuja city only and not outside it.
But SECDAA? reacted through suit No. NSD/FL. 81/200. Motion: NSD/LFIM6/ 2011 before the same court and sought for an interlocutory order which was granted by Justice S. O. Aboki on July 27, 2011.
The Interlocutory? order retrained the NURTW and its agents or authorities acting on their behalf from harassing, disturbing the lawful business of the plaintiff until the determination of the substantive suit pending before this court.
The case was adjourned to September 19, 2011 for further hearing.
Counsel to SECDAA told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY that his client refused? to appear in court, because the suit filed before the court was against SECDA and not SECDAA.