Justice Ikechi Nweneka of the National Industrial Court of Justice, Lagos Judicial Division, has ordered that University of Lagos (UNILAG) reinstate one of its lecturers, Mr Bamisaye Olutola, to his position and employment without loss of seniority, promotion and emoluments.
 
While delivering judgment in suit No. NICN/LA/441/2021, Justice Nweneka ordered UNILAG (the defendant) to pay the claimant (Mr Olutola) his full salary and allowances from August 2021 to date, and shall continue to pay his salary thereafter, including a refund of N750,000 legal cost.
 
The judge ordered that the claimant’s appointment as Lecturer II still subsists and is deemed confirmed, adding that the defendant cannot suspend the claimant indefinitely without due process.
 
The judge, therefore, directed that an order of perpetual injunction be made restraining the defendant either by itself, its agents, privies, servants or any person howsoever described from unlawfully tampering with the claimant’s employment.

“This judgment shall be implemented within 30 days from today, failing which the monetary awards shall accrue interest at 10 per cent per annum from August 15, 2025, until the judgment sum is fully liquidated,” the judgment added.
 
The court declined granting the claimant’s request seeking post-judgment interest of 20 per cent per annum, saying: “The court is empowered by Order 47 Rule 7 of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2017, to post-judgment interest at a minimum rate of 10 per cent per year, as the claimant has not provided sufficient evidence to support a claim of 20 per cent interest per year.”