Taraba council chairman sued over alleged threats to workers

The chairman of Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State, Emmanuel Ubandoma, and the council have been sued over an alleged threat by the chairman against civil servants and political appointees supporting opposition political interests.

The suit, filed by Hajara Sule at the Federal High Court in Jalingo on 19 October, followed the circulation of a video in which Mr Ubandoma allegedly warned government workers against engaging in political activities he considered contrary to the interests of the Governor Agbu Kefas administration.

The case, marked FHC/JA/HR/66/2026, seeks to enforce the fundamental rights of the council’s employees and political appointees, particularly their rights to freedom of association and protection from discrimination.

Ms Sule is asking the court to declare that the workers have the constitutional right to belong to political parties of their choice without coercion, intimidation or discrimination by the council leadership.

She also wants the court to declare that threatening workers with the loss of their salaries because of their political affiliations is illegal, unconstitutional and a violation of their fundamental rights.

Reliefs sought

The suit was filed under Sections 40, 42 and 46(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, alongside relevant provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009.

Ms Sule is seeking an order restraining Mr Ubandoma, the council and their agents from using their official positions to compel employees or political appointees to join or support any political party.

She is also demanding ₦20 billion in general and aggravated damages over the alleged violation of the workers’ rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly.

Additionally, she wants the court to order the respondents to tender an unreserved public apology to the council’s employees in at least two national newspapers.

The applicant is asking the court to determine whether the alleged threats violate the constitutional rights of the affected workers and to grant any further relief it considers appropriate.

Alleged threats against workers

In the video, Mr Ubandoma, speaking in Hausa, warned civil servants and political appointees against participating in political activities he considered contrary to the interests of Mr Kefas’s administration.

“If you are a civil servant or hold a government appointment, and I catch you engaging in this, I will take action against you, and whatever follows, you should put it in writing,” he reportedly said.

He argued that government workers should not serve an administration while engaging in activities he considered a betrayal of its interests.

“I am saying this because you cannot work for a government that pays your salary and provides for your livelihood, only for you to turn around and betray its trust. That is unacceptable,” he said.

The chairman also warned workers against allowing family relationships to influence their political activities, urging those unable to separate personal ties from their official responsibilities to resign.

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“Even if you are related to a candidate by blood, sharing the same mother or father, if you cannot set that relationship aside and do your duty, you should resign. Resign!” he said.

Mr Ubandoma further vowed to expose individuals he accused of betraying the government’s trust.

“By the end of this month, I will begin to expose you. I am not afraid of anyone. I am not afraid of anyone who has betrayed the trust placed in them,” he said.

Constitutional rights

Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees citizens the right to assemble freely and associate with others, including the right to form or belong to political parties.

Section 42 prohibits discrimination on specified grounds, while Section 46 provides a mechanism for seeking judicial redress when fundamental rights are allegedly violated.

The suit seeks a judicial determination of whether Mr Ubandoma’s alleged statements violated the affected workers’ rights.