● Judge withdraws from suit by former staff
The fallout from the recent sack of top level staff in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has led some to lament they were treated “like armed robbers” and “dogs”, while some are said to be in depression because, despite the high position they held, they are now unable to meet family needs.
Huge deductions were allegedly made from their retirement benefits, with one Director leaving with less than N100,000 to his name.
In comparison though, some juniors to the directors, who are opting to leave voluntarily, under a recently announced policy, may smile home with up to N100 million.
A source told Everyday.ng that at least 2,000 staff may have indicated their intention to take an early exit, amid speculations that a plan may be in the offing to recruit new of staff to replace those who are leaving, confirming the views of some of the sacked senior personnel.
Said one sacked senior official: “You see, they treated us like armed robbers. That’s what they did, our set (of staff) were treated like armed robbers. Yes, because we were sacked, and all our payment and all the upfront we were given this year were deducted, were recovered from our gratuity.
“For example, if you have, like, as an executive, I’m entitled to passage allowance, extra for holiday outside the country, and I was given the housing upfront, educational upfront, everything. This upfront we are given every year, January. So, when we were sacked, they pro-rated it and recovered everything from our gratuity. That’s what happened.
Our loans were taken from our gratuity. All the loans we collected from CBN. One of my friends, that friend, he was the head of one of our subsidiaries. There was a time he was on secondment somewhere. He took a loan. This guy was given sixty thousand (60,000) naira only (as his retirement benefits after all deductions). One of us was given fourteen (14) million, after he had served for about twenty-one (21) years. Some of the younger ones never got a kobo. They were expected to pay back money. That was how we were treated. You can see that ours (sack) was done with malice.
“There is a lady that had four days to go to her retirement. Four days to go. She had packed her things from the office already. When we were sacked, she was supposed to leave the next on Thursday. We were sacked on Friday with her. Four days or three days to go.
“So our (sack) was just pure wickedness. Really pure wickedness. And I will tell you the truth. Most of my friends that were sacked are in depression now, because some of them can’t take care of their family.
“Close to 400 were sacked, I think. The directors that were sacked, some of the directors were the best. In fact, the people that were sacked April, May, and March were the best Central Bank could present in the market
Asked the reason for the rash of sackings and if a plan is afoot for fresh recruitment, the director said, “Yes, they want to bring in their people. You know in Central Bank, no matter what you do, your records are being kept because you don’t own the boys. So if they want to clean the record they will have to start from the original entry and they cannot use old staff to do those things. Because no matter what it is, all staff will keep records. You will maintain the file. We see National Assembly trying to stop (them). We see you hated us. You treated us like dogs. The situation is so bad that people that have spent four years, five years, they will be leaving with about a hundred and something million.
“This is so because they say they will give them sixty (60) months total salary. Whereas, people that have spent fifteen (15) years, twenty (20) years that are managers, senior managers, principal managers or assistant directors will not get up to N50 million.
“Because their own is eighteen (18) months whereas these other people, it’s sixty (60) months, five years.
Meanwhile, Justice Benedict Kanyip of National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja, on Tuesday, withdrew from separate suits filed by 62 staff members of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who were recently sacked.
Justice Kanyip, the President of NICN, recused himself from the cases because a lawyer’ in the matter is his his in-law.
In one of the originating summons marked: NICN/ABJ/26x/2024 dated Aug. 21 but filed on Aug. 22 by a team of lawyers led by Ola Olanipekun, SAN, on behalf of one of the staff, the claimants urged the court to nullify the termination letters issued to them.
They sought a declaration that the letter, titled: “Re-ORGANISATION,” dated May 23 but with effect from May 24, issued by the CBN’s Director, Human Resources Department, and addressed to the claimants, was in contravention of the provisions of the CBN Act 2007.
They said that the action also contravened the bank’s Human Resource Policies and Procedure Manual (HRPPM) and therefore was arbitrary, unlawful, null and void.
They are seeking a declaration that the claimants’ contract of employment with the CBN, subsisted and remained valid and of full effect, to date.
They, therefore, sought “an order setting aside the purported termination of the claimant’s employment vide letter titled: “REORGANISATION”, dated 23rd May, 2024, for being arbitrary, unlawful, null and void.”
They also prayed the court for an order directing the CBN to reinstate them to the positions which they were at the time of the termination letters or other higher positions as they would ordinarily have attained or been promoted in the course of their employment, if same were not unlawfully terminated.
They equally sought an order directing the bank to pay them all their monthly salaries, allowances and other emoluments/entitlements which they would have earned if their employment had not been unlawfully terminated, among other reliefs.
It was observed that 31 of the 62 suits were listed for hearing on Tuesday, while the remaining 31 cases were scheduled for Wednesday.
Besides, motion to consolidate the cases had also been filed by the claimants’ counsel. However, upon resumed hearing on the first suit, Olanipekun announced his appearance alongside other lawyers in his company. The senior lawyer told the court that the matter was slated for mention.
Obafemi Agaba of Jackson, Etti, and Edu & Co, while announcing appearance for CBN, said there were consortium of law firms that will be representing the bank in the case, including D.D. Dodo, SAN & Co law firm.
Then Justice Kanyip made observation that Mr Damian Dodo, SAN, is his in-law.
The judge, who said he was not comfortable to continue with the matter, said the case, would be reassigned to another judge for adjudication. He, however, sought the view of counsel to the claimant.
Olanipekun, in his response, said they do not have any doubt about the impartiality of the court at discharging its judicial functions. Agaba equally expressed confidence in the court.
He however said that justice must not only be done in the court but must have been seen to have been done. He said whatever the judge decided would be okayed by them.
In a short ruling, Justice Kanyip recused himself from the case and ordered the reassignment of the matter, including the 61 others that were sought to be consolidated by the claimants’ counsel.
● Additional report by NAN.
