House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, chaired by Hon. Nkem-Abonta, has summoned the management of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc over alleged forceful eviction notice served on about 720 workers and their families from its various residential camps across Abuja.
The workers, in a petition dated June 17, 2016, were purportedly declared redundant by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc via a circular dated June 28, 1999, which was referred to the committee.

 According to the aggrieved workers, the company recently issued quit notices to the workers, and “despite the ruling of the High Court and several ones delivered by District Courts in Abuja, FCT for the status quo ante bellum to be maintained, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has again decided to disrupt the peace in Abuja and cause chaos and anarchy by bringing armed policemen and soldiers to threaten us and forcefully served all of us resident in the company’s quarters a notice termed, ‘Notice to servitude tenant of owner’s intention to apply to recover possession,’ dated June 13, 2016.”

 According to the petitioners, ”the said notice stated that we should vacate and yield possession of our company’s quarters to one Mr. Haha Chinedu, the authorised representative of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc on or before June 22, 2016, if not, we would be forcefully ejected.”

 The workers who called for the intervention of the House in order to avert chaos and anarchy if the company decides to carry out its threat as suggested in the notice, however explained that Julius Berger’s action is prejudice on a matter pending before the Supreme Court.

 According to copies of the FCT High Court ruling in Suit No. CV- 25-2000, between Julius Berger Nigeria Plc vs Akpan Dominic and 213 others, dated April 12, 2013, the company’s “application is in the wrong place. It is like a prayer brought before a crippled to help push an abandoned car. You will be picking the cripple.

 “The application is infested with monumental defects and incapacitation more dangerous than HIV/AIDS. I have no cure for the sick application. It is accordingly struck out. Actus curse neminem gravabit.”

 While reacting to the threat notice served on his clients, Sekpribo Peters of God’s People Legal Consult, Abuja, explained that there is a subsisting order of the FCT High Court in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/423/99, restraining Julius Berger Nigeria Plc either by herself or through any other person on her behalf, from ejecting the affected workers who were declared redundant since 1999, from their official quarters.

 Peters noted that previous attempts by Julius Berger through its counsel, Kennedy Aireruor, via a letter dated 31st August 2012 to settle out of court was unsuccessful.