Court approves virtual testimony in N108b lawsuit against Total Energies

(FILES) This photograph taken on October 5, 2022, shows a logo of Total Energies at a gas station in Genech, northern France. – French oil and gas major TotalEnergies announced on February 7, 2024 a net income of $21.4 billion (19.8 billion euros) for 2023, a new record after the extraordinary year of 2022. (Photo by Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP)

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Lagos has granted virtual evidence in favor of Dr. Ayodeji Sasegbon, a former staff of Total Energies E&P, who filed a N108 billion suit against Total Energies E&P Nigeria Limited (TEPNG) and its parent company, Total Energies SE (TOTAL ESE), for alleged wrongful termination of his employment as a process engineer – Smart Room.

Justice Sanda Audu Yelwa granted the ruling following a motion seeking an order for the court to take the evidence of the claimant virtually.
The motion, argued by Aniekan Obong, representing Mr. Yemi Candide-Johnson, SAN, stated that the claimant is currently in England receiving treatment for health issues and trauma allegedly caused by the termination of his employment.

The defendants, represented by Lawal Kazeem of Templars, opposed the motion. However, Justice Yelwa ruled in favor of the claimant and adjourned the matter to January 28, 2025, for a virtual hearing via Zoom.

In the main suit, NICN/LA/155/2023, Sasegbon is seeking N108,720,718,580.91 as damages for wrongful termination of employment, loss of future job prospects, mental and physical injury, defamation, and character assassination.

In his statement, Sasegbon claimed that after earning a doctoral degree from Imperial College, London, in 2014, he applied to TEPNG’s Career Website in August 2014. He underwent tests and interviews and was employed “on contract” in November 2015, resuming in the Deep Water Production Support Department in December 2015.

He argued that the categorization of his employment as “on contract” was an unlawful attempt to circumvent labor rights protected under international conventions.
He claimed his performance was highly commended, and in 2017, he was offered “permanent employment” as a Process Engineer (Smart Room), which he resumed in November 2017.

Sasegbon completed his probation in April 2018 and received positive recommendations from his line managers. However, his employment was terminated in July 2018 without prior notice or reason. His appeal for reconsideration to the TEPNG Managing Director was rejected in August 2018.

Sasegbon referenced a previous case, Mrs. Olumagin vs. TEPNG (Suit No. LA/580/2018), as evidence of the company’s alleged improper employment practices, which he claims contravene international labor laws and conventions.