Industrial Court Orders Southwestern University to Pay Lecturer 32 Months’ Salary
Hon. Justice Hassan Yakubu of the Ibadan Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court has declared that Southwestern University Nigeria and 3 others owe Mr Obi unpaid salaries arising from his employment.
The Court ordered Southwestern University Nigeria and 3 others to pay Mr Obi the sum of N2,000,000.00 being unpaid salaries from November 2014 to June 2017; N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) as general damages and the sum of N1,500,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) solicitor’s fee within 30 days.
From facts, the Claimant, Mr Obi, a lecturer, submitted that he was employed by the Southwestern University Nigeria on September 7, 2012, as an Assistant Lecturer. Due to his effectiveness, attention to detail, and doggedness at his job, he was promoted to the position of Lecturer II before his resignation from the service of the University on June 15, 2017.
Despite repeated demands, Mr. Obi averred that Southwestern University Nigeria failed to pay him his outstanding salaries.
However, the defendants- Southwestern University Nigeria and 3 others did not file any process in defence of the case aside from the memorandum of conditional appearance filed.
The learned counsel to the claimant, Adebola Akinoye Esq stated that his client had established his case against the Southwestern University Nigeria and urged the Court to grant all the reliefs sought.
In a well-considered judgment, the presiding Judge, Justice — stated that the Southwestern University Nigeria and 3 others’ conduct points to a singular conclusion that they have no defence to the claims of Mr Obi, and the law is settled that where a Defendant is given the opportunity to defend a suit but it fails to utilize the opportunity given, the Defendant is deemed to have admitted Mr. Obi’s claims.
Justice Yakubu held that Mr Obi has proved his case on preponderance of evidence and balance of probability, and resolved the issue for determination in favour of Mr Obi.
