Whistle-blower’s case against NBET MD for judgment March 11

The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has set March 11 for judgment in the case instituted by a whistle-blower, Mr Sambo Abdullahi against the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) and its Managing Director, Dr Marilyn Amobi over the suspension of his salary since 2017.

NBET, Amobi, Minister of Power, and the Federal Ministry of Power, are named as respondents in the suit.

Abdullahi whose salary, emoluments and other entitlements were suspended on 22nd December, 2017 by NBET is praying the court to declare the action as unlawful, illegal, null and void.

 At the resumed hearing last week Tuesday, the court presided over by Justice Oyejoju Oyebola Oyewumi adopted the final written addresses of both parties.

The defence team led by Oyetola Oshobi, SAN, argued that Abdullahi’s  salary and other emoluments were stopped based on his absence from work and refusal to resume in the newly created Learning and Development unit of the NBET.

On the issue of absenteeism, the defence relied on exhibit A15 (analysis on claimant’s attendance dated 20th March 2019).

In the claimant’s address, while opposing the issue of absenteeism, he argued that absenteeism was never a reason for the stoppage of his salary as contained in exhibit SA11 (letter from the 1st defendants head of corporate services to the claimant dated 27th December 2017) and exhibit A15 relied upon was orchestrated long after the salary was stopped as same covers the period from 1st July 2018 to 20th March 2019 while his salary was stopped in December 2017.

Justice Oyewumi adjourned the case to March 11, 2020, for judgement.

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