The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has described the continued suspension of one Funmi Omosule, a manager at Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, as oppressive and irrational.
The court, which held that the suspension of the claimant for 12 years was null and void and of no effect, ordered the authority to recall and reinstate him.
Ruling on the matter, Justice Olufunke Anuwe averred that the stoppage of the claimant’s salaries and allowances on the basis of his suspension was unjustifiable.
She consequently ordered that the claimant’s salaries and allowances be computed from April 2021 up to the time he is reinstated and be paid to him.
The judge also awarded the sum N500,000 to the claimant.
She however declined the claimant’s request that he be promoted to the level he would have been had he not been suspended.
In its defence Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority argued that Omosule was suspended because he failed to bring original certificates before the management for verification.
In his reply, the claimant said he lost his original certificates and that he submitted certified true copies of the certificates to the authority but that his employer still refused to recall him from the suspension.