By: Mandy Willy
A labour leader in Rivers State, Comrade Sir Ikechukwu Foster Onyefuru, has dragged the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) before the National Industrial Court in Port Harcourt over alleged unconstitutional suspension and dissolution of elected union executives.
The suits, marked NICN/PH/60/2026 and NICN/PH/63/2026, are pending before the Port Harcourt Judicial Division of the court.
In Suit No. NICN/PH/60/2026, Onyefuru, a senior staff member of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, formerly Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), and the elected Chairman of the former SPDC Branch of PENGASSAN, now Renaissance Africa Energy Company (RAEC), is challenging his suspension as Chairman of the Rivers State Council of TUC.
Onyefuru, who said he had served as TUC Rivers State Chairman since September 26, 2022, sued the TUC, its National President, Comrade Festus Osifo, the Rivers State Chairman, Comrade Samuel Ogan, and the Secretary-General, Comrade Abba Toro.
According to the court documents, the dispute followed a suspension notice dated June 25, 2024, referenced TUC/HO/ADM/24/163, which accused Onyefuru of misconduct and disregard for the Congress by granting press interviews without approval from the national secretariat, despite an earlier query issued on June 20, 2024.
Onyefuru is asking the court to declare the suspension unconstitutional, ultra vires, null and void.
He argued that under the 2024 TUC Constitution, only the National Executive Council, Central Working Committee or National Administrative Council could discipline an elected state chairman after a fair hearing.
He also contended that the issuance of a query and subsequent apology could not substitute a formal disciplinary process.
The claimant said efforts to resolve the dispute internally, including a letter dated May 6, 2025, requesting a meeting over the state of the TUC in Rivers State, did not resolve the matter.
He is asking the court to set aside the suspension and restore him to office for the unexpired portion of his tenure.
He is also seeking a declaration that any election or appointment of Ogan or any other person as his replacement is invalid, as well as N10 million in general damages and N5 million as the cost of the action.
In the second suit, NICN/PH/63/2026, Onyefuru and nine other claimants, suing as members of the dissolved SPDC/RAEC Branch Executive Council and concerned members of PENGASSAN, are challenging the dissolution of the branch executive.
The claimants said they were elected on August 30, 2024, for a three-year tenure ending in August 2027, but that PENGASSAN dissolved the executive on May 9, 2025, and constituted a caretaker committee headed by Akpe Emmanuel.
They said the dissolution occurred shortly after Renaissance Africa Energy Holdings completed its acquisition of SPDC shares on March 13, 2025.
The claimants are asking the court to interpret the provisions of the PENGASSAN Constitution 2022, which they said was the governing instrument at the time of the dissolution, particularly whether the association had the power to dissolve an elected branch executive in the circumstances.
Joined as defendants in the suit are PENGASSAN, its President, Comrade Festus Osifo, its Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, members of the RAEC Caretaker Committee and Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.
The claimants have also filed a Motion on Notice seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from recognising or treating the caretaker committee as the lawful leadership of the branch.
They are further asking the court to restrain the defendants from excluding them from union activities and elections and from enforcing what they described as compulsory PENGASSAN Foundation deductions.
The claimants referred to communications dated December 14, 2025, and January 30, 2026, concerning mandatory check-off deductions for the PENGASSAN Foundation.
They said they had earlier objected to the deductions in a letter addressed to the management of RAEC on January 5, 2026.
The two suits are currently pending before the National Industrial Court, Port Harcourt Judicial Division.
Further developments in the cases will be reported as proceedings continue.
