The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, National Working Committee has appointed the Governor of Rivers State, H. E. Chief Nyesom Wike as the Chairman of Edo State Governorship Election National Campaign Council.
The deputy chairman is Adamawa State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Fintiri.
See full list below:
![[JUST IN]: Industrial Court Declares Joseph Oladunni Dismissal Wrongful, Awards Cost](https://equitynews.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/adewemimo-new.jpg "[JUST IN]: Industrial Court Declares Joseph Oladunni Dismissal Wrongful, Awards Cost")
The Presiding Judge, Benin Judicial Division, His Lordship, Hon. Justice Adunola Adewemimo has declared the purported dismissal of Joseph Oladunni from employment of Music And Culture Communications as wrongful, ordered firm to pay the sum of Eighty Thousand Naira salary in lieu, One hundred and Fifty-Nine thousand, Three naira only outstanding salaries balance, and N100,000 Naira cost of action within 30 days.
The Court held that the firm failed to justify the claimant’s dismissal and its adherence to the basic tenets of natural justice.
From facts, the claimant- Joseph Oladunni had submitted that he was employed vide a letter dated 18th March, 2016, and was dismissed on the 9th of April, 2018, averred that he was not issued with any query prior to his dismissal, hence the dismissal was wrongful and further that the defendant is owing him arrears of his salaries.
In defence, the defendant- Music And Culture Communications pleaded that the Joseph misconduct imparted negatively on the loyalty and productivity of the station, and continued that the claimant was duly informed of the allegations against him through a telephone conversation to come and air his grievances.
The defendant pleaded that the delay in payment of the claimant’s salaries was due to economic downturn and it has since paid the claimant two months’ salary after the institution of the suit that refusal to honour the invitation sent to him led to his eventual dismissal and posited that an employee may be summarily dismissed without notice and without wages, if he is guilty of gross misconduct.
The defendant further counter-claimed for economic loss and Solicitor fee in the sum of N2,000,000.00k against the claimant.
The claimant in his Reply stated further that he did not exhibit any act of insubordination or disrespect towards any constituted authority while working for the defendant, averred that he was unable to resume his duty because the defendant’s security staff acting on instruction, denied him access to the premises urged the court to dismiss the counter-claim for being frivolous.
Delivering Judgment, the trial Judge held that despite the absence of specified terms on discipline of staff in the contract of employment, the defendant still retains the power to discipline an erring staff in adherance to the basic tenets of natural justice.
“The common concept of our legal jurisprudence is that he who asserts must prove, thus, the defendant having led evidence on the practice of issuing verbal queries and verbal invitation to staff facing a disciplinary procedure for an interface, must adduce evidence in proof of the said practice.
“The issuance of a verbal query to the claimant in the circumstance, considering the serious allegations raised against him is not only perplexing, but the fact that the content of the oral query is not ascertainable from the evidence adduced is also detrimental to the defence in this suit.
“In the light of the above, the defendant failed to justify the claimant’s dismissal and its adherence to the basic tenets of natural justice as encapsulated in the twin pillars of natural justice.”
Lastly, the Court dismissed the counter claim for lack of proof.
The Presiding Judge, Benin Judicial Division, His Lordship, Hon. Justice Adunola Adewemimo has declared the purported dismissal of Joseph Oladunni from employment of Music And Culture Communications as wrongful, ordered firm to pay the sum of Eighty Thousand Naira salary in lieu, One hundred and Fifty-Nine thousand, Three naira only outstanding salaries balance, and N100,000 Naira cost of action within 30 days.
The Court held that the firm failed to justify the claimant’s dismissal and its adherence to the basic tenets of natural justice.
From facts, the claimant- Joseph Oladunni had submitted that he was employed vide a letter dated 18th March, 2016, and was dismissed on the 9th of April, 2018, averred that he was not issued with any query prior to his dismissal, hence the dismissal was wrongful and further that the defendant is owing him arrears of his salaries.
In defence, the defendant- Music And Culture Communications pleaded that the Joseph misconduct imparted negatively on the loyalty and productivity of the station, and continued that the claimant was duly informed of the allegations against him through a telephone conversation to come and air his grievances.
The defendant pleaded that the delay in payment of the claimant’s salaries was due to economic downturn and it has since paid the claimant two months’ salary after the institution of the suit that refusal to honour the invitation sent to him led to his eventual dismissal and posited that an employee may be summarily dismissed without notice and without wages, if he is guilty of gross misconduct.
The defendant further counter-claimed for economic loss and Solicitor fee in the sum of N2,000,000.00k against the claimant.
The claimant in his Reply stated further that he did not exhibit any act of insubordination or disrespect towards any constituted authority while working for the defendant, averred that he was unable to resume his duty because the defendant’s security staff acting on instruction, denied him access to the premises urged the court to dismiss the counter-claim for being frivolous.
Delivering Judgment, the trial Judge held that despite the absence of specified terms on discipline of staff in the contract of employment, the defendant still retains the power to discipline an erring staff in adherance to the basic tenets of natural justice.
“The common concept of our legal jurisprudence is that he who asserts must prove, thus, the defendant having led evidence on the practice of issuing verbal queries and verbal invitation to staff facing a disciplinary procedure for an interface, must adduce evidence in proof of the said practice.
“The issuance of a verbal query to the claimant in the circumstance, considering the serious allegations raised against him is not only perplexing, but the fact that the content of the oral query is not ascertainable from the evidence adduced is also detrimental to the defence in this suit.
“In the light of the above, the defendant failed to justify the claimant’s dismissal and its adherence to the basic tenets of natural justice as encapsulated in the twin pillars of natural justice.”
Lastly, the Court dismissed the counter claim for lack of proof.
The Bureau of the Boards of Governors of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has constituted a three man panel to review the earlier findings by its committee over allegations of corrupt practices leveled against its President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.
The Chairperson of the Bureau of the Boards of Governors of the AfDB Group, Ms. Niale Kaba and Governor for Côte d’Ivoire yesterday announced the setting up of the committee.
It would be recalled that the Ethics Committee of the Bank had previously investigated allegations leveled against the president by some whistleblowers over issues bordering on abuse of office and exonerated him on the charges.
However, the United States questioned the integrity of the report and demanded a fresh probe from an independent investigator. But the Board of the bank refused to yield to the US demand. Rather it opted for an independent review of the Ethics Committee’s report.
The communiqué issued at the end of the Bureau’s meeting stated that the Board agreed on the terms of reference for the independent review at its meetings of 18 June 2020 and 1st July 2020 to constitute a review panel in line with its earlier promise.
Consequently, three persons namely, Mrs. Mary Robinson, Mr. Hassan B. Jallow and Mr. Leonard F. McCarthy, were selected to constitute a high-level panel of independent experts to conduct the said review. The panel will be chaired by Mrs. Robinson.
Mrs. Mary Robinson is a Barrister by profession and is a former President of the Republic of Ireland while Justice Hassan B. Jallow is a former Attorney General of the Republic of the Gambia as well as a former Justice of the country’s Supreme Court. Leonard F. McCarthy is a former Director of Public Prosecutions, a former Director for the Office of Serious Economic Offences, and a former Head of the Directorate of Special Operations of South Africa.
The panel is expected to submit its report to the Bureau within a period of two to four weeks maximum.
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the indefinite suspension of the Managing Director/CEO of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Mr Adebayo Somefun and other top directors over corruption allegations.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Head, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. Charles Akpan yesterday 02/07/2020.
Others suspended were four directors of the agency, Jasper Ikedi Azuatalam, Executive Director, Finance and Investment; Olukemi Nelson, Executive Director, Operations and Tijani Darazo Sulaiman, Executive Director, Administration.
Some management staff suspended included Olusegun Olumide Bashorun, General Manager, Administration/Human Resources/Maintenance; Lawan Tahir, General Manager, Finance; Chris Esedebe, General Manager, Claims and Compensation; Olodotun Adegbite, Deputy General Manager, Investment and Treasury Management; Emmanuel Sike, Deputy General Manager, Finance and Accounts; Olutoyin Arokoyo, Deputy General Manager/Acting Head, Legal; Dorathy Tukura, Deputy General Manager, Administration; Victoria Ayantuga, Assistant General Manager, Internal Audit.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has said youths between the ages 20 and 40 were responsible for the spread of COVID-19, while the majority of those bearing the brunt are older people from 50 years and above.
The NCDC Director-General, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, who stated this on Thursday in Abuja, during the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, cautioned against undue and unrestrained social activities.
He said, “As more people are infected across the world, you would have seen the numbers; it is increasingly obvious that transmission among younger people really, not children, but people aged between 20 and 40 as far as we know, are really driving the spread of this virus, but those that are bearing the brunt of it are people age 50 and above.
“Three out of five people who died from COVID-19 are 50 years and above; so we have to work harder, all of us collectively, to protect our elderly. We are on the verge of opening our airports, we have relaxed intercity travel.”
Ihekweazu asked the people not to go on social visits which might further the spread of the virus.
The NCDC said it had published new guidelines and advisory for vulnerable people, and urged Nigerians to read it.
Source: The Punch
The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, says the Federal Government is waiting for a grant to conduct further research on the Madagascar herbal formula for COVID-19. According to him, preliminary results of the analysis of the Madagascar herb by the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development show that it is the same as the plant Artemisia anua grown in the NIPRID farm.
“Further research on its efficacy will be conducted when the grants for research is approved,” he said in Abuja yesterday during the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. Ehanire also disclosed that all government hospitals in FCT would become COVID-19 sample collection sites so that walk-in cases could have samples taken for testing. He said this was to scale up the number of daily tests conducted in the country daily. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and PTF Chairman, Boss Mustapha, clarified that the school reopening was for only primary six pupils as well as JSS three and SSS three students requiring revision before examinations.
He said virtual meetings should be encouraged to minimize congregation of civil servants as much as possible. He said government offices should restrict visits by those not on very essential businesses to their premises. He also said a new rise in COVID-19 cases was to be expected in view of the eased restrictions.
He, however, said the government would proceed with caution and would not hesitate to change course when the need arose. “What this means is that Nigerians should never mistake the relaxation by government as a signal that the COVID-19 battle had been concluded,” He emphasized that the best way to manage the COVID-19 pandemic is the comprehensive approach of observing physical distancing, keeping personal hygiene, wearing face mask, avoiding large gathering and “staying at home if you should.” He urged that as domestic flights resumed on July 8, the new airport protocols be strictly adhered to.
Orders arrest of FMC Lokoja attackers
He appealed to all health workers and authorities of health care facilities to help reduce avoidable fatalities occurring from non-coronavirus-related conditions by attending to all patients while still observing the COVID-19 protocols. He disclosed that security agencies had been ordered to fish out “the criminal elements” behind the Wednesday’s attack on the Federal Medical Centre Lokoja and bring them to justice. Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu, said Nigerian youths between the ages of 20 and 40 were majorly responsible for the spread of coronavirus; while majority of those bearing the brunt were 50 years and above. He reminded Nigerians that despite the eased restrictions, the government had not relaxed the guidelines on mass gatherings.
Source: Daily Trust
The chairman of the Kogi State Security Trust Fund, Siaka Oyibo is dead.
The Kogi State government in a statement, on Thursday, said that Oyibo, a retired military officer, died from diabetes. He was aged 69.
The statement was signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo.
It reads: “The Kogi State Government wishes to announce the passing on of Hon. Siaka Oyibo a few hours ago. Until his death, Hon. Oyibo was the Chairman, Kogi State Security Trust Fund.
“Oyibo was hugely instrumental to the security strides of the Governor Yahaya Bello administration as the Chairman of the Security Trust Fund.
“As he bowed after fighting bravely against diabetes at the age of 69, he will be remembered for his patriotism, hardwork and commitment to the security agenda of the present administration in the state.”
Source: The Nation
The Presiding Judge, Abuja Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court, His Lordship, Hon. Justice Edith Agbakoba has nullified the dismissal of MR. K.V. Ateb from Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, Civil Service Commission; ordered reinstatement with payment of all outstanding salaries, benefits, allowances, entitlements from July 2013 till the date of his approved retirement January 2015.
The Court held that Civil Service Commission did not strictly complied with the provisions of the public service rules in dismissing Mr. Ateb as required by law, that the reasons tendered for the dismissal are unfounded.
From facts, the Claimant- Ateb has averred that he was employed on 1st December 1983, and carried out his duties over the years and surprisingly, that on 5th July 2013 and on 17th July 2013 he received letters from the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs and Civil Service Commission informing him that he has been dismissed.
Claimant counsel Niven Momoh Esq submitted that all the allegations levelled against his client are not only false but malicious and simply to victimize him for rightfully demanding for a refund of his out of pocket expenses for the second stage of his medical treatment abroad that was rightly approved by the Civil Service Commission.
In defence, the Civil Service Commission – 2nd defendant stated that the claimant left his duty post without express permission in direct contravention of the public service rules and denied owing for medical expenses that all the provisions of the Public Service Rules pertaining to the dismissal of civil servants were complied with urged the court to dismiss the suit its entirety with substantial costs.
Furthermore, Ministry Of Foreign Affairs – 1st defendant averred that the provisions of the Public Service Rules were duly complied with, that Ateb was duly queried which he responded to in his defence.
The Claimant in reaction to the defence stated that he returned to Moscow shortly after resumption because he saw the approval for him to remain at the post which he did not receive before resuming back to Nigeria and he needed no other approval from the Defendants to return to Moscow as that would have amounted to reapplying for a request that has already been granted that due process was not followed for his removal urged the court to grant the relief sought.
Delivering judgment, the presiding Judge, Justice Agbakoba held that the investigation report of the 2nd defendant which is neither signed nor dated has no evidential value in law.
“It is therefore inadmissible in law, and I, therefore, expunge it from the records of the Court as having been wrongly admitted. This is more so because these lapses raised serious doubt about its authenticity especially when its contents are been challenged by the opposing side.
“I am not satisfied that the 1st defendant strictly complied with the provisions of the public service rules in their action dismissing the Claimant as is required by law.
“In this instant case, I find, from the foregoing, that the actions of the defendants and the mode of dismissal adopted by the Defendants in dismissing the Claimant evolved outside the scope of the Public Service Rules and the nature of the Contract of employment existing between the claimant and the defendant and for that reason the purported dismissal of the claimant cannot stand is hereby declared invalid, illegal unlawful, null and void, the law requires that the Claimant be automatically reinstated. I so order.
“In the circumstance of this case, the court would require to be presented with evidence that the defendants had committed to refund this out of the pocket expense. Barring the show of any official approval from the defendants the court is unable to grant these reliefs. These reliefs therefore fail and are refused.”
A Federal High Court in Benin has adjourned a 700million Naira fraud case against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 19, 2020, governorship poll in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Mr. Ize-Iyamu and four others were expected to appear in court today on an alleged 8 count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of 700m naira.
However, the case could not hold due to the absence of the Judge.
The court will now sit on the 7Th of July, 2020.
Equity News is for your timely news on Entertainment, Music, Education, Law and Fashion fashion website. We provide you with the latest breaking news and analysis from an equitable perspective.
Contact us: info@equitynews.ng --- 08142480272
Equity News © 2023
