The Presiding Judge, Awka Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court, Hon. Justice John Targema has declared the action of the Executive Chairman, Post Primary Education Board, Delta State suspending Mrs Omawumi Tomarah’s salary since October 2019 till date without compliance with legal procedures as illegal, null and void.
The Court also ordered the Chairman, Post Primary Education Board, Delta State; agent of the Honourable Commissioner Ministry of Basic & Secondary Education, Delta State, the Governor of Delta State and its Attorney General to reinstate and pay Mrs Omawumi Tomarah’s accrued arrears of salaries from October 2019 till the judgement is fully liquidated.
It was gathered that Mrs Omawumi Tomarah had submitted that her salary was suspended by the Chairman, Post Primary Education Board, Delta State because she refused to yield to the request to pay one Omolu the sum of N800,000.00 allegedly owed to one late Mrs. Comfort.
She revealed that the Omolu who claimed to be the next of kin of the late Mrs. Comfort wrote to the Chairman, Post Primary Education Board, Delta State to assist him in recovering the sum of N800,000.00 without providing any Probate or Letters of Administration or any document whatsoever granted by any Court naming Omolu as Executor and/or Administrator of the Estate of the said Late Mrs Comfort to back his claim.
Hence, Justice Targema directed the Chairman, Post Primary Education Board, Delta State and 4 others to allow Mrs Omawumi Tomarah to carry out her duties as a teacher in Ogidigben Grammar School, Ogidigben in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State without further threats to life, security and salary, and awarded the sum of N5m as general damages.
