Industrial Court Dismisses Employment Termination Suit Against Akanu Ibiam Polytechnic
The Presiding Judge, Enugu judicial division of the National Industrial Court, Hon. Justice Olukayode Arowosegbe has dismissed the case filed by one Jonathan against Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Ebonyi State and 2 others challenging his employment termination for lacking merit.
The Court held that Jonathan was aware that he could be dismissed based on a prior indictment if he failed to disclose the history of his earlier employment with the government before securing another government employment.
From facts, the claimant- Mr. Jonathan had pleaded that his dismissal hinged on White Paper was contrary to the Public Service Rules which regulated his appointment.
He pleaded that the White Paper was made without a fair hearing and he challenged it by a suit, which was struck out.
In defense, the defendants- Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Ebonyi State and 2 others stated that Abia State Government issued a White Paper which indicted Jonathan for misconduct and he was dismissed. They counterpleaded that Jonathan suppressed the information at his appointment about his dismissal and when they eventually discovered, due process and fair hearing in terminating Jonathan’s appointment were followed.
In opposition, Jonathan argued that the White Paper did not direct his dismissal and never gazetted to have legal effect to warrant such disclosure and the circumstances under which he can be dismissed from the defendant’s employ by virtue of the PSR is serious misconduct.
Delivering judgement, the presiding Judge, Justice Olukayode Arowosegbe held that Jonathan’s issue of lack of fair hearing on the processes leading to the issuance of the White Paper is an entirely different cause of action for which the extant defendants could not be sued and could not answer.
Justice Arowosegbe held that a court lacks jurisdiction to hear a case where the defendant is not brought to the Court, and dismissed Jonathan’s issues of absence of fair hearing in the processes leading to the issuance of the White Paper as irreleva
nt, stale and academic.
