Unlawful dismissal: Court to rule on NDIC’s application against staff

The National Industrial Court, Abuja has fixed March 20 for ruling in an application by the National Insurance Deposit Corporation (NDIC) seeking to change the mode of filing of suit by a former staff, Brian Esema, challenging his sack. Justice Olufunke Anowe fixed the date after listening to the submissions of counsel to NDIC, Joe […]

The National Industrial Court, Abuja has fixed March 20 for ruling in an application by the National Insurance Deposit Corporation (NDIC) seeking to change the mode of filing of suit by a former staff, Brian Esema, challenging his sack.

Justice Olufunke Anowe fixed the date after listening to the submissions of counsel to NDIC, Joe Gadzama (SAN), who demanded that the suit be filed by pleadings as against the originating summons by his counsel, Godwin Ijunbor of Mike Ozekhome (SAN) chambers. 

Esema, who was dismissed from the service of the NDIC in 2009 over allegations of fraud, filed the suit on December 28, 2016 after efforts to resolve the issue administratively failed.

Esema, of the Principal Manager in Insurance and Surveillance Department of the NDIC, is demanding the sum of N1 billion in compensation against the corporation after he was denied his salaries, entitlements and privileges for seven years. He was pleading wrongful termination of appointment.

According to Esema’s deposition, his trouble started after one Chijioke Ekechukwu, who earlier accused him of fraud, wrote to inform the NDIC that the two have resolved the issue, but the corporation proceeded to serve him a query dated January 13, 2009.

He maintained that he was never called upon to cross-examine the petitioner upon which the query was based, which sought to deprive him of his means of livelihood.

He further stated that letters written by the then Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF) and Secretary of the Government of Federation (SGF) directing the CEO/MD of NDIC to recall him, were ignored.