The National Industrial Court in Abuja has admitted 345 exhibits in a suit filed by 114 Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) members challenging their alleged unlawful dismissal by Kogi State University (KSU).
The massive exhibits were presented by Femi Falana, a human rights activist and constitutional lawyer, and accepted by Justice Rakiya Haastrup in order to determine the legality or otherwise of the alleged unjust layoff of the lecturers.
Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), filed the suit at the Industrial Court in Abuja on behalf of the lecturers, who included about six Professors, against Kogi State University and the Attorney General of Kogi State as the first and second defendants, respectively, requesting that the alleged dismissal of his clients be reversed.
Kogi State University (KSU) terminated the appointments of 114 lecturers on the grounds of institutional reorganisation in a letter dated August 14, 2017, with reference No. KSU/R/EST/EMP/SS/Vol 1.
However, in the suit, Falana, among others, requested that the Industrial Court declare the termination of his clients’ appointments as illegal, null and void on the grounds that it violated the existing provisions of Chapter 6 paragraph 6.4.6 of the Kogi State University conditions and schemes of service for senior staff dated November 2008.
He asked the court to set aside the alleged appointment termination and to pay all of the lecturers’ salary arrears and allowances.
The senior lawyer also requested a perpetual injunction to prevent the University and its agents from evicting the lecturers from their respective offices and residences.
Falana also sought a perpetual injunction order prohibiting the defendants from further terminating the lecturers’ employment or denying them the right to any privilege or refusing to pay their salaries and allowances, promoting or harassing, intimidating, threatening, or suspending his clients’ employment without due compliance with the laws governing their employment.
During his evidence-in-chief, the senior lawyer tendered the 345 exhibits through the Kogi State University ASUU branch Chairman, Dr Daniel Oluwagbemiga Aina.
Falana, whose brief was handled by Femi Adedeji, informed the court that the 345 exhibits were the pivot of the 114 lecturers’ case against the Kogi State University’s unlawful dismissal.
He directed Justice Haastrup to conduct a critical judicial examination of all exhibits and to order the reinstatement of the lecturers to work in the interests of justice and fair play.
Mr Wisdom Caleb, counsel to the University, and Abbas Kamarudeen, counsel to the Kogi State Attorney General, agreed to object to any exhibits at the final address stage.
While admitting the exhibits, Justice Haastrup set October 24, 25, and 26 for cross-examination of the witness on his evidence in chief.
The North Central Zonal leaders of ASUU, led by the Chairman, Dr. Chris Piwuna, were present.
