THE ASSOCIATION of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has disowned a purported press statement issued by Shehu Mohammed, insisting that he and Joshua Apebo no longer have the legal or administrative authority to speak or act on behalf of the union.
In a statement signed by the ASCSN Secretary-General, Comrade Gamaliel C. Acho, the union said the public, government agencies, organised labour and media organisations should disregard any communication purportedly issued by Mohammed or Apebo in the name of the association.
The union said its position was based on a judgement of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/169/2025, which it said was delivered on April 15, 2026, by Justice R. B. Haastrup.
According to the statement, the court issued a perpetual injunction restraining Mohammed and Apebo from parading themselves as leaders of ASCSN, convening meetings or interfering with the administration and assets of the union.
The association further stated that the two individuals were declared judgement debtors and ordered to pay a total of N70 million in general, exemplary and aggravated damages over what the court allegedly described as acts of “disdain, contempt, and wilful disobedience” to judicial orders.
ASCSN also maintained that there was no subsisting stay of execution against the judgement, stressing that an application for a stay of execution filed before the trial court was struck out on May 20, 2026, while an application for a stay before the Court of Appeal was subsequently withdrawn by the appellants on September 3, 2026.
On that basis, the union contended that the April 15 judgement remains valid and enforceable.
The statement also challenged the status of the two individuals within the union, noting that Mohammed remains a suspended member of the association and has been stripped of leadership functions and authority under the relevant judicial orders.
Apebo, it said, is a former paid employee of the union’s secretariat rather than a serving civil servant. The association alleged that he was summarily dismissed without benefits for gross misconduct, insubordination and anti-union activities.
ASCSN said the dismissal was upheld by the governing organs of the union and recognised by the court.
The union further argued that the continued use of its name, logo and purported authority by Mohammed and Apebo amounted to an attempt to circumvent the authority of the court.
It cited Section 287(3) of the 1999 Constitution, arguing that authorities, institutions and persons throughout the country are required to comply with and enforce applicable decisions of the National Industrial Court.
“Neither Shehu Mohammed nor his associates have any legal standing within the Association or the Public Service,” the statement said.
The union consequently advised Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), organised labour groups, media organisations and members of the public not to rely on correspondence or directives issued by Mohammed or Apebo in the name of ASCSN.
It said authentic communications from the association are issued through its Open Information System (OIS) and signed by the National President, Comrade Innocent Bola-Audu, or the Secretary-General, Comrade Gamaliel C. Acho.
ASCSN also said its legal team had been directed to document the latest publication allegedly issued by the judgment debtors as evidence of what it described as continued disobedience of the court’s orders.
The association said the documentation would be used to pursue further legal and statutory enforcement measures, including possible committal proceedings.
The union called on members and the wider public to rely only on communications issued through its recognised channels, while reaffirming its commitment to the rule of law and the welfare of senior civil servants across Nigeria.
