• Orders payment of entitlement
Justice Faustina Kola-Olalere of the National Industrial Court (NIC), Port Harcourt Division, has declared the dismissal of Dr Williams Abomaye-Nimenibo from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as wrongful and illegal.
The court has, therefore, ordered the NNPCL to pay Dr Williams Abomaye-Nimenibo N24.6 million in unpaid salaries for his suspension period, N600 million in exemplary damages, and N5 million for the legal fees, all to be paid within two months.
Justice Kola-Olalere, in a judgment he delivered in the suit marked, NICN/PHC/149/2018, held that Abomaye-Nimenibo’s dismissal was not only wrongful but contrary to the recommendations of an NNPC Ad-hoc Committee.
The court noted that while the committee advised termination, the NNPC instead opted for dismissal, which was in breach of the NNPC Corporate Policy and Procedure Guide (CPPG) under which Dr Williams Abomaye-Nimenibo was employed.
Abomaye-Nimenibo, an Assistant Administrative Supervisor, claimed that his dismissal was unjust, malicious, and without due process. He initially sought N25 billion in damages for breach of contract and unlawful termination.
In its defence, the NNPCL argued that Abomaye-Nimenibo was dismissed for gross negligence, alleging that his actions led to significant financial losses for the company. The company’s counsel insisted that the dismissal was consistent with the provisions of the CPPG, citing a letter dated February 15, 2018.
However, Justice Kola-Olalere found that the NNPCL did not provide sufficient evidence to support its claims.
The court also noted that Abomaye-Nimenibo was entitled to his full salary for his first suspension from January 23, 2015, to May 9, 2016, and half of his salary during his second suspension from May 10, 2016, until his wrongful dismissal in February 2018.
