Court fixes May 23 for judgment in suit against Oyo Govt.

The National Industrial Court, Ibadan Division, on Monday fixed May 23 to decide the suit of alleged wrongful termination of appointment of two officers of the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission.

NEWSVERGE reports that the claimants, Dauda Dimeji and Ajisebutu Oseni, had their appointments terminated by the commission on June 30, 2021, over alleged irregularities in their documents.

Not satisfied with the termination procedure, the duo sued the commission as the first respondent, joining the state governor and attorney-general as the second and third respondents respectively.

Adopting his final written address at Monday’s proceedings, counsel to the commission, Mr Muyiwa Makinde, said the appointments of the claimants were terminated over irregularities in their documents.

Makinde argued that the staff audit carried out by the commission discovered some irregularities in the documents used by the claimants in securing appointments into the commission.

He said a disciplinary committee was set up and upon being found guilty of the allegations, the claimants were compulsorily retired.

Makinde said he had tendered some exhibits in support of his case and, thereby, urged the court to dismiss the case in its entirety.

Also, while adopting his final written address, counsel to the second and third respondents, Dr T. Dairo, urged the court to adopt his address, filed on March 14, 2023, as her argument in the case.

She urged the court to dismiss the case and grant the prayers of the respondents.

Meanwhile, counsel to the claimants, Mr Muktar Aderogba, in adopting his final written address, said his clients were not given a fair hearing before terminating their appointments.

Aderogba told the court that the commission failed to comply with the conditions as laid down in its rules and regulations guiding the termination of appointments.

He, therefore, urged the court to declare the termination of the appointments of the claimants as improper.

According to him they should be reinstated and granted other claims.

Justice John Peters, after adopting the final written addresses of the parties, fixed May 23 for judgment.