
Akagwu Audi Yakubu, Idris Auwal, and Daciyal Longji David had challenged their termination at the National Industrial Court, but the court ruled in favour of the CBN in 2018.
The Court of Appeal has ordered the reinstatement of three former employees of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) whose appointment was wrongfully terminated in 2015.
The court also directed the CBN to pay the claimants their full salaries and awarded N1million in damages.
Akagwu Audi Yakubu, Idris Auwal, and Daciyal Longji David had challenged their termination at the National Industrial Court, but the court ruled in favour of the CBN in 2018.
However, the Court of Appeal has now overturned that decision, upholding the claimants’ rights.
The CBN had in 2015 terminated employment of the trio in 2015 under the guise of “service no longer required”.
Dissatisfied with the decision of the bank, the claimants engaged the law firm of Falana and Falana’s represented by Mr. Femi Adedeji who filed a complaint before the National Industrial Court seeking the following reliefs:
“A declaration that the purported termination of the Claimants appointments with the Defendant is illegal and irregular as it violates the Central Bank of Nigeria Act Cap. C4 LFN 2004 and Paragraph 16.5 the Human Resources Policies and procedures of the Defendant.
“An order of this Honourable Court reinstating the Claimants to their respective employment with the Defendant and with immediate effect.
“An order directing the Defendant to pay to the Claimants all accrued salaries. Benefits and allowances that are due to the Claimant since their appointments were irregularly terminated by the Defendant.
“An order directing the Defendant to pay each of the Claimants the sum of N10, 000, 000. 00 (Ten Million Naira) only as general damages.”
Ruling on the suit the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja presided by Honourable Justice B.A. Adejumo, (retired) in a judgement delivered on the 17th of October, 2018, affirmed the Claimants dismissal.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, the Claimants appealed the judgement before an Abuja Division of Court of Appeal.
The appellate court in its judgement delivered recently, set aside the judgement of the Industrial Court and ordered the reinstatement of the Claimants.
The court further declared the termination of the claimants’ employments as “illegal”
The appellate court held, “Consequently, this appeal has merit and is accordingly allowed. The judgment of the National Industrial Court in suit No: NICN/ABJ/119/2015 delivered in October 17, 2018 by Honourable Justice B.A. Adejumo, OFR is hereby set aside.
“It is hereby ordered that the Appellants be reinstated back to their respective employment with the Respondent and with immediate effect.
“The Respondent shall pay to the claimants all accrued salaries, benefits and allowances that are due to the Claimants since their appointments were irregularly terminated by the Respondent._
“The Cost of N1, 000, 000. 00 is also awarded against the Respondent.”
The case emphasises the importance of employers following proper procedures in employment termination, as outlined in Nigerian labor laws and the Central Bank of Nigeria Act.
Leave a Reply