Court Orders Reinstatement Of Sacked UI Lecturer, Payment Of N13m Salary Arrears

The National Industrial Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, has ordered the University of Ibadan to immediately reinstate Prof Adenike Ogunshe, whose appointment was terminated by the institution on June 14, 2016.

Ogunshe, a senior lecturer at the Department of Microbiology, was sacked by the institution over a refusal to vacate her office to another one, which she deemed illegal.

Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice John Peters said that the University of Ibadan failed to comply with the rules and regulations guiding the employment relationship concerning the termination of Ogunshe’s appointment.

According to the judge, the relocation of office that led to the alleged termination of the claimant’s appointment started in 2006 and was left hanging until 2013 when the claimant was issued a query.

The judge said that the court found out that the issue was escalated by the claimant’s insistence that rules and regulations be followed in the appointment of the Head of Department.

Peters declared the termination of Ogunshe’s appointment by the institution as unlawful, null, void and of no effect for non-compliance with the applicable rules.

The judge further set aside the letters of termination of appointment issued on June 14, 2016, and August 15, 2016, by the University of Ibadan to Ogunshe.

Justice Peters ordered the immediate reinstatement of Ogunshe to her position as senior lecturer in the Department of Microbiology of the institution without loss of benefits, prerequisites of office, promotion and remunerations.

The judge further ordered the institution to pay Ogunshe a sum of N13,607,028 being her salary arrears from August 15, 2016, to the date of the judgment.

He also ordered the institution to pay a sum of N200,000 as the cost of the proceedings.