The Court of Appeal has ruled in favor of three former employees of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), ordering their immediate reinstatement and full payment of salaries and benefits since their termination in 2015.
The affected individuals—Akagwu Audi Yakubu, Idris Auwal, and Daciyal Longji David—had initially challenged their dismissal at the National Industrial Court. However, in 2018, the court ruled in favor of the CBN, affirming the termination. Dissatisfied with this judgment, the claimants pursued an appeal, which has now resulted in a victory for them.
In its recent judgment, the appellate court declared that the termination of the claimants’ employment was unlawful and violated the Central Bank of Nigeria Act and the bank’s Human Resources policies. The court ruled that the CBN had failed to follow due process when it dismissed the three employees under the claim of “service no longer required.”
Delivering its ruling, the Appeal Court stated:
“Consequently, this appeal has merit and is accordingly allowed. The judgment of the National Industrial Court in suit No: NICN/ABJ/119/2015, delivered on October 17, 2018, by Honourable Justice B.A. Adejumo, OFR, is hereby set aside.
“It is hereby ordered that the Appellants be reinstated to their respective positions with immediate effect.
“The Respondent (CBN) shall pay the claimants all accrued salaries, benefits, and allowances due to them since their appointments were irregularly terminated.”
The court further awarded N1 million in damages against the CBN for the wrongful dismissal.
The claimants, represented by the law firm of Falana and Falana, had initially sought several reliefs, including:
– A declaration that their termination was illegal and violated the CBN Act.
– An order for their reinstatement.
– Full payment of their salaries, benefits, and allowances since 2015.
– N10 million in general damages for each claimant.
While the National Industrial Court dismissed their case in 2018, the Court of Appeal has now ruled in their favor, setting a significant precedent on wrongful termination cases in Nigeria.
This ruling reinforces the importance of adherence to labor laws and proper procedures in employment termination. It highlights that even powerful institutions like the CBN must operate within the framework of Nigerian labor laws and their own internal policies.
Legal experts suggest this decision could influence future labor disputes, encouraging employees to seek justice when dismissed unfairly. It also serves as a warning to organizations against wrongful termination practices.
The CBN has yet to issue an official statement on the ruling. However, labor rights activists and legal professionals have hailed the judgment as a step toward protecting workers’ rights in Nigeria.
