Connect with us

Judiciary

Court orders school to pay teacher N2m for unlawful dismissal

Published

3 years ago

on

Court-symbol
Court-symbol
Share

The National Industrial Court has ordered a school, Trinity Model Academy, to pay its former staff member, Lucy Agabo, N2 million for psychological trauma which resulted from unlawful termination of her employment.

The presiding judge, Justice Isaac Essien, on Monday, May 15, declared the action of the school as unlawful, null, and void, saying it was done in breach of the claimant’s fundamental rights to fair hearing.

Justice Essien also ordered the school to pay the claimant (teacher) N200,000 as cost of action within 30 days.

From facts, the claimant stated that she was employed by the defendant as a classroom teacher in September 2017 and was issued a letter of termination on April 5, 2019, on the grounds of alleged gross misconduct.

She asserted that she never engaged in any act of misconduct and was never issued a query before her termination.

Agabo added that the termination was an attempt to destroy her teaching career which she worked tirelessly to build over the years and to further prejudice her chances of job prospects in the future.

The school, however, said Agabo was found guilty of the offence of gross misconduct.

The school in addition argued that because the appointment of the claimant was temporary in nature, it did not need strict adherence to statutory provisions but from the condition of service drawn from the instrument of employment.

It further urged the court to dismiss the case in its entirety.

In response, Agabo’s counsel argued that the probation period was supposed to be for one academic calendar year, adding that his client had become a permanent staff from September 2018 when the new academic session commenced.

The lawyer stated that the claimant was no longer a temporary staff when her appointment was terminated, urging the court to grant the reliefs sought.

Justice Essien, after evaluating the submissions of both parties, declared that the failure of the school to confirm the employment of the claimant after one academic session and continuing to hold her in the employment was nothing but an unfair labour practice.

He added that the claimant was deemed to have been confirmed by operation of the law after one academic session.

The judge equally ruled that the failure of the defendant to issue the claimant a query as provided in the contract of employment which would have afforded her the opportunity to defend the allegation of misconduct made against her was a clear breach of the right to fair hearing as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Views: 272
Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Judiciary

Court Disqualifies Uzodimma as APC Imo West Senatorial Candidate, Declares Okorocha Primary Winner

Published

2 weeks ago

on

October 29, 2026

By

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma
Share

 

The Federal High Court in Abuja has disqualified Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, from presenting himself as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections, declaring former governor Rochas Okorocha the winner of the party’s May 18 primary election.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in his judgment delivered on Thursday, held that the evidence before the court established that Okorocha secured the majority of votes cast during the primary election conducted by the APC and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Consequently, the court ordered Uzodimma to immediately cease presenting himself as the APC’s senatorial candidate for Imo West. It also directed the party to submit Okorocha’s name to INEC as its duly nominated candidate for the January 16, 2027 senatorial election.

Views: 172
Continue Reading

Judiciary

Wiretapping Allegation: Court Orders El-Rufai to Enter Defence

Published

2 weeks ago

on

October 26, 2026

By

Former Kaduna State Governor,Nasir El -Rufai
Share

 

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a no-case submission by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and ordered him to enter his defence, if he so wishes, in his ongoing trial over the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications belonging to National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the order on Monday while ruling on El-Rufai’s no-case submission, holding that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to warrant calling on the defendant to respond to the allegations.

The dismissal of the no-case submission means the court has found sufficient grounds for El-Rufai to be called upon to present his defence, although it does not amount to a determination of his guilt.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case until November 25 for the defence proceedings.

El-Rufai is standing trial over allegations of unlawfully intercepting Ribadu’s telephone communications, charges he is entitled to defend himself against as the case proceeds.

 

Views: 210
Continue Reading

Judiciary

Imo Court Targets January 2027 for Trial of Five Suspected Kidnappers

Published

3 weeks ago

on

October 22, 2026

By

Kidnap Suspects
Share

 

An Imo State High Court sitting in Owerri has called for an accelerated hearing of cases involving five suspected kidnappers, directing prosecution and defence counsel to cooperate with the court to ensure judgments are delivered before January 2027.

The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Orafu, made the appeal during proceedings involving three defendants accused of abducting prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and two others facing charges in a separate kidnapping case.

At the hearing, a Department of State Services (DSS) investigative officer, Ikem Emmanuel, testified on the investigation that led to the arrest of the three defendants in the NYSC-related case.

Emmanuel told the court that the investigation involved intelligence gathering, phone data analysis, record checks, interviews and statements obtained from the defendants, victims and witnesses.

He further disclosed that an identification parade was conducted, during which victims and witnesses allegedly identified the defendants as members of the criminal gang.

The DSS officer also told the court that one of the defendants, Usman Aliyu, admitted in his statement to participating in the operation and allegedly revealed that 11 persons were involved.

According to the witness, the defendants’ statements were obtained in the presence of their legal representatives and DSS legal officers.

In a separate proceeding involving two other defendants, Emmanuel also testified on the investigation, stating that their statements were equally taken in the presence of their lawyers and DSS legal officers.

Following the proceedings, Justice Orafu adjourned the cases to October 27, 28, 29 and 30 for continuation of hearings.

The judge reiterated the need for all counsel to work closely with the court to ensure the cases are determined expeditiously, with judgments delivered before January 2027.

The five defendants are to remain in DSS custody pending the continuation of proceedings.

The cases followed the abduction of 20 prospective corps members by gunmen on October 1, 2026, near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.

The victims were reportedly travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their assigned NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when they were abducted.

They and a civilian were rescued six days later from the Amakohia-Ubi forest in Owerri West Local Government Area.

The DSS subsequently arrested five suspects in intelligence-led operations conducted between October 10 and 14 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba, Abia State.

The court proceedings are expected to continue later this month as the prosecution presents its evidence in the cases.

 

Views: 115
Continue Reading