By Danjuma Amodu
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, has declared that Comrades Shehu Mohammed and Joshua Apebo remain the recognized National President and Secretary General of the union, pending the determination of an appeal at the Court of Appeal.
In a public notice issued on Monday, the ASCSN Management said the clarification became necessary following what it described as deliberate misrepresentation of facts by Innocent Bola-Audu regarding the leadership of the association and a recent judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, NICN.
According to the union, the matter in dispute is Suit No. NICN/ABJ/169/2025 between Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria & 5 Ors. vs. Shehu Mohammed & 4 Ors., in which judgment was delivered on April 15, 2026.
The ASCSN stated that Bola-Audu and one Gamaliel Acho are currently facing criminal prosecution before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Judicial Division, in Charge No. CR/291/2025 filed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The charge, the union said, borders on impersonation of the National President and Secretary General of ASCSN, and an attempt to divert the association’s funds and check-off dues into private bank accounts allegedly opened in the name of the association without the consent and authorization of its legitimate leadership.
The union further disclosed that a Motion Ex-Parte filed by Bola-Audu in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/133M/2026, seeking a Writ of Possession to take over the ASCSN National Secretariat and all its assets, was struck out on May 20, 2026.
Delivering the ruling, Hon. Justice R. B. Haastrup of the NICN refused the application for the issuance of the writ. The court’s decision followed the filing of Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/573/2026 by Comrades Shehu Mohammed and Joshua Apebo challenging the NICN judgment of April 15, 2026.
“In the light of the pending appeal, Comrades Shehu Mohammed and Joshua Apebo are still and will continue to be vested with the leadership of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria as the National President and Secretary General respectively, pending the determination of their appeal by the Court of Appeal,” the notice stated.
The ASCSN, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, said copies of the charge and the NICN ruling will be published for public record.
The union urged the general public, Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, and members of ASCSN to be guided accordingly and to disregard any communication or directive not emanating from the recognized leadership of Shehu Mohammed and Joshua Apebo.
