Court Orders Oyedepo's University To Pay Ex-Employee N10.3m |SEE WHY
Afnews Editor
Oct 14, 2021
The National Industrial Court on Thursday ordered Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, to pay its former employee, Dr. Adekunle Oyeyemi, the sum of N10.3 million as general damages, terminal benefit, and salary.
READ ALSO: H0T: Yahaya Bello Reveals When Wike Will Join APC
The judge, Justice Ayodele Obaseki-Osaghae, delivering judgment also declared that the termination of the claimant's employment was wrongful and in breach of the contract of his employment.
READ ALSO: WONDERS! Two cats test positive for coronavirus | See Location here
The court ordered the payment of N8.2 million as the equivalent of his 24-month salary as general damages.
READ ALSO: Samoa Agreement Explained: 10 Key Facts You Should Know
The sum of N1.7 million was ordered as terminal benefits and N344,635 being salary in lieu of notice, to be paid within 30 days.
The judge held that the university's unilateral review of the claimant's employment conversion to Senior Lecturer was wrongful.
READ ALSO: (JUST IN) Bank Excessive Charges; Senate Set To Investigate
The court stated that the action was unsolicited and was designed to make the workplace intolerable for him and force his exit.
READ ALSO: Nigerian Scholar, Jonathan Earns Second Master's Degree with Distinction in the UK
Obaseki-Osaghae stated that there was no wrongdoing established before the court that necessitated the termination of the claimant's appointment with immediate effect.
READ ALSO: Otti Declares Education the Key to Nigeria's Future at Nile University Convocation
"The words with 'immediate effect' have the effect of stigmatization.
READ ALSO: Education and Empowerment
"The termination of the claimant's employment is wrongful and not in accordance with international best practices.ÔÇØ the judge ruled.
From facts, the claimant submitted that he was employed as a full-time Director of the University's Counseling Centre from Oct.1, 2007, to Nov.15, 2016, when his appointment was terminated without any misconduct.
READ ALSO: Oxford Dictionary Adds 'Mammy Market', 'Amala', Other Nigerian Words To Glossary
In addition, he stated that he sent an internal memo to the Secretary of the University Board to state his position against the board's resolution on the issue of tenure of Principal Officers and Directors.
READ ALSO: [ABIA]: Herdsmen Attacks, Kidnapping in Isuikwuato; Women send SOS to Ikpeazu
He further said that he got a reply letter informing him that his tenure as the Director of the Centre had come to an end and he was being redeployed to the Department of Psychology as a Senior Lecturer, which was against his terms of employment.
READ ALSO: RECOGNITION REVEALED: UNILAG Honours Dr. Desmond Anyaso with Bronze Partnership Award
The claimant's counsel, Funmi Falana, submitted that the termination of her client's employment was done contrary to the institution's law.
READ ALSO: H0T: Yahaya Bello Reveals When Wike Will Join APC
She, therefore, sought an order of reinstatement amongst other reliefs.
READ ALSO: WONDERS! Two cats test positive for coronavirus | See Location here
The defendant, on its part, submitted that the claimant was invited to a roundtable discussion when his service was no longer required in its counselling centre.
READ ALSO: Samoa Agreement Explained: 10 Key Facts You Should Know
The university also stated that when the claimant was informed of its decision to transfer him as a Senior Lecturer on contract, he consented to the arrangement.
The university stated that it decided to retain the claimant as a Senior Lecturer on contract as a kind gesture as he was over 60 years as at the time and was due for retirement. (NAN)
Related Stories
Nigerian Scholar, Jonathan Earns Second Master's Degree with Distinction in the UK
RECOGNITION REVEALED: UNILAG Honours Dr. Desmond Anyaso with Bronze Partnership Award
Oxford Dictionary Adds 'Mammy Market', 'Amala', Other Nigerian Words To Glossary
Otti Declares Education the Key to Nigeria's Future at Nile University Convocation
Sure Foundation College of Nursing Sciences Launches Seamless Online Admission Portal - Here's Why You Should Apply Now
Education and Empowerment
""
— Afnews Editor