The National Industrial Court, Lagos Judicial Division has struck out the case filed by former Managing Director of Veritas Glanvills Pensions, Mr. Adebayo Adesina against the firm for lack of Jurisdiction.
The presiding judge, Justice Nweneka held that the Court lacks jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit as presently constituted that Applicant/Respondent’s claims do not have any bearing whatsoever to employment, labour, Industrial relations, trade unionism, employer’s association or any other matter which the Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine.
The claimant- Adebayo Adesina had approached the Court via originating summon sought amongst others for a declaration that the Veritas Glanvills Pensions petition dated 12th day of February 2019 against him constitutes a violation and/or likely violation of his fundamental right to personal liberty and dignity of human persons guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 [as amended].
Responding to the suit, the Pension administrator counsel Umar Saka Esq. filed a notice of preliminary objection, asked the Court to strike out the suit for lack of jurisdiction, and also that the suit constitutes an abuse of court process as it prays the Court for precisely the same prayers/reliefs which has been determined by the Honourable Court.
Delivering Judgment after careful perusal of the submissions of both counsel, the presiding Judge, Justice Ikechi Nweneka held that while the facts giving rise to the petition arose from the Applicant/Respondent’s employment, the petition and the claims before the Court do not relate to the Applicant/Respondent’s employment rights.
“From the wording of Section 254C[1][d] of the 1999 Constitution [as amended], the jurisdiction of this Court on civil causes and matters relating to or connected with any dispute over the interpretation and application of the provisions of Chapter IV of the Constitution is limited to employment, labour, industrial relations, trade unionism, employer’s association or any other matter which the Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine.
