Court gavel
By CHRISTIANA LOT, Jos –
No fewer than 100 former employees of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have initiated legal action at the National Industrial Court in Abuja, contesting their alleged unlawful termination during a reorganization exercise in May 2024.
It is pertinent to note that on May 24, 2024, the CBN dismissed several directors and senior officials as part of its reorganization policy under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
On Thursday, Mr. Ola Olanipekun SAN, representing some of the affected employees, filed cases to the National Industrial Court in Abuja. He emphasized that the court’s intervention is necessary to protect the fundamental rights of the employees, which they allege were violated through the bank’s actions.
“Our claimants approached the Court to enforce their right to a fair hearing concerning their unjust dismissal by the CBN,” he stated. Further detailing the implications of the alleged unlawful terminations, the counsel noted that these actions have led to damages amounting to hundreds of millions of naira.
According to him, claimants are seeking compensation for lost salaries, allowances, and other benefits. “One of our clients, who still had nine years of service remaining, would have earned a total of N1,621,455.70 if his employment had not been unlawfully terminated,” Olanipekun added.
Additionally, the claimants are requesting payment of all monthly salaries, allowances, and other emoluments up until the judgment date. The appellant is also demanding an order for the payment of N178,360,127.00, representing the salaries and allowances he would have earned from their termination date until their lawful retirement on August 4, 2033.
Furthermore, he seek N100,000,000.00 in general damages for the wrongful termination and N30,000,000.00 to cover litigation costs, along with a 21% post-judgment interest per annum on the awarded sums.
Olanipekun noted that the Originating Summons, dated August 22, 2024, is accompanied by a 27-paragraph affidavit sworn by the claimant, as the court prepares to review these demands and issue further orders as necessary.
