JUST IN: Appeal Court Orders Reinstatement Of Sacked CBN Staff, Payment Of Salaries 10 Years After Dismissal

The Court of Appeal has ruled in favor of three former employees of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), ordering their reinstatement and payment of full salaries and benefits that had accrued since their wrongful dismissal in 2015. The employees, Akagwu Audi Yakubu, Idris Auwal, and Daciyal Longji David, were terminated under the pretext of “service no longer required,” which they contested in the National Industrial Court.

In 2018, the National Industrial Court ruled in favor of the CBN, upholding their termination. However, the claimants, dissatisfied with this ruling, appealed the decision to the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division. The appellate court, in a recent judgment, overturned the earlier ruling and found the dismissal to be "illegal" and in violation of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act and the bank's own human resources policies.

The court ordered that the three claimants be reinstated to their respective positions with immediate effect and that the CBN pay them all their accrued salaries, benefits, and allowances from the time of their dismissal in 2015. The ruling also included a N1 million cost against the CBN.

The case stems from the wrongful termination of the claimants under the guise that their services were no longer required, a decision that was challenged by the claimants with the support of their legal team from the law firm Falana and Falana, headed by Mr. Femi Adedeji.

The claimants sought the following reliefs:

1. A declaration that their dismissal was illegal, as it violated the CBN Act and the bank’s internal human resources policies.
2. An order for their immediate reinstatement to their positions.
3. Compensation for lost earnings, benefits, and allowances.
4. General damages of N10 million each for the wrongful termination.

The initial ruling by the National Industrial Court on October 17, 2018, had favored the CBN, but the Appeal Court’s recent judgment has now corrected this decision, emphasizing the need for employers to adhere to legal and procedural requirements in employment matters.

The decision marks an important development in Nigerian labor law, particularly in cases involving wrongful termination by major institutions. It also highlights the necessity for corporations to strictly follow proper procedures in employee terminations to avoid legal repercussions.

The ruling sets a significant precedent for workers' rights in Nigeria and reaffirms the importance of upholding workers' legal protections. The court’s stance serves as a reminder that illegal termination not only impacts the affected individuals but can also lead to substantial legal costs and reputational damage for the employers involved.

The three former employees, who have been fighting this case for nearly a decade, are now entitled to the full payment of their salaries, benefits, and allowances that were withheld since their unlawful dismissal in 2015.