Court awards N10.3m damages against firm

•Another orders EFCC to seize oil company’s funds
The National Industrial Court (NIC) in Lagos has awarded N10.3 million as damages against Lagos Travel Inn.

The cost was awarded over a disabling injury suffered by one of its employees, Emmanuel Abah, in the course of his duties.

Justice J. D Peters held that the NIC was a court of law and equity, which is governed by the rule of law, adding that with the damage done to the leg of the claimant, there was no market where he could purchase a new leg.

The judge ordered that the judgment must be complied with within 30 days and also awarded 20 per cent interest on the amount, until it is fully liquidated.

Counsel to Abah, Daniel Onwe, had commenced the suit in November 2014, on behalf of the claimant.

Among the prayers sought were declarative reliefs that the termination of his appointment, due to his condition was wrong and unfair.

In a supporting affidavit, Abah averred that Abah was offered appointment in the defendant’s security department on March 3, 2012.

He explained that he was absorbed into the defendant’s housekeeping department with effect from May 1, 2012.

He stated further that the elevator at the defendant’s office crushed Abah’s leg against the over-head concrete lintel causing him a disabling injury.
Onwe explained that, while he elevator had remained dilapidated and malfunctioning and on several occasions trapped its occupants, the management did nothing about it.

He explained that his client’s application for a loan of N40, 000 for treatment was turned down, adding that the management later terminated his appointment upon his resumption without valid reasons.

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered that funds belonging to Ontario Oil and Gas be temporary seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraud.

The trial judge, Hadiza Shagari, made the order following an ex parte application filled by the EFCC over the funds.

The commission joined Ontario Oil and Gas Limited and its Managing Director, Ada Ugo-Ngadi, as first and second defendants.

An investigating officer, Abdukarim Acheneje, endorsed the EFCC’s supporting affidavit of urgency.

After listening to the argument, the court ruled: “That the property mentioned in paragraph nine of the affidavit viz, Renoir Logistics Limited currently under investigation be temporary forfeited pending the determination of the investigation and possible prosecution of the case.