Abdulazeez Abdulwahab
JUSTICE Nelson Ogbuanya of a Port Harcourt, Rivers State division of the National Industrial Court has ordered Guinness Nigeria Plc and three others to pay an ex-employee Fifty-Two Million, Four Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand Naira (N52.456.000.00) only following the wrongful termination of the ex-staff member’s employment in 2019.
Bright Nwosu, who was employed by Guinness Nigeria Plc in 2004 as a Sales Executive, instituted the court process in suit NICN/PHC/108/2019 against the company on 18 September 2019, following his unceremonious dismissal by the blue-chip company.
As a result of the judgment, Guinness has been ordered to pay Mr Nwosu Nineteen Million ( N19,000,000.00) and Eight Hundred and Eighty-Six Thousand (N886,000.00) in terminal benefits and gratuity, based on the dismissed staffer’s 15-year stay with the company.
Additionally, Guinness Nigeria Plc is required to offset Mr Nwosu’s two months of unpaid salaries in lieu of notice, totalling Five Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira (N570,000.00)
For unfair labour practices, the court ordered Guinness Nigeria Plc to pay Mr Nwosu Thirty Million Naira (N30,000,000.00) as compensation, along with Two Million Naira (N2,000,000.00) as litigation costs.
The court further ordered that all awarded sums must be paid within two months from the date of the judgment. Failure to comply with the order of court will result in an annual interest rate of 10% until full payment is made.
Speaking on the judgment, Cletus Azunku, who held the brief of A. A. Brown, the claimant’s counsel, thumbed up the court for the well-considered judgment, emphasizing its significance as a deterrent to employers who maltreat their employees in Nigeria.
On the other hand, K. C. Eze, counsel for the defendants, declined to comment, citing a lack of authorization to speak to the press on the matter.
Eighteen-Eleven Media