Justice Kanyip Recuses Self from Case Against CBN over in-law Appearance
The Hon. President of the National Industrial Court, Hon. Justice Benedict Kanyip has announced his recusal from the suits filed by 62 former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) officials who were recently disengaged from the apex bank’s service.
The 62 ex-staff had filed separate suits against the CBN as the sole defendant and submitted that the letter, titled “Re-ORGANISATION,” issued by the CBN terminating their appointment effective May 24, contravened the provisions of the CBN Act 2007.
They argued that the action also contravened the bank’s human resource policies and procedure manual (HRPPM) and therefore was “arbitrary, unlawful, null, and void”.
They also prayed the court amongst others for an order directing the CBN “to reinstate them to the positions that 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 the same had not been unlawfully terminated”.
Interestingly, when the first suit was called, Ola Olanipekun announced his appearance alongside other lawyers in his company for the claimants.
While announcing the appearance for the defendant- CBN, Obafemi Agaba, a lawyer, said a consortium of law firms including the Damian Dodo & Co. law will represent the bank in the case.
Justice Kanyip recused himself from the cases after a lawyer in the team of counsel to the CBN, who announced an appearance, happened to be his in-law.
The Hon. President, who expressed his discomfort with continuing the matter, said the case would be reassigned to another judge for adjudication.
