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By Lukman Olabiyi
For Mrs. Annastasia Nneka Anukwa, the journey from dismissal to vindication has been long, painful and marked by years of uncertainty.
After more than a decade of legal battles, the former Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) employee has recorded another significant victory in her quest for justice.
The Court of Appeal in Lagos has struck out an application filed by the NCAA seeking to halt the enforcement of a judgment that ordered her reinstatement, effectively clearing the way for the implementation of a court decision that declared her dismissal unlawful.
The appellate court, sitting in Lagos, dismissed the agency’s application after counsel representing the NCAA failed to prosecute the matter despite being served with a hearing notice.
The three-member panel of Justices Folasade Ayodeji Ojo, Muslim Sule Hassan and Polycarp Terna Kwahar consequently struck out the motion for want of diligent prosecution.
The latest development comes nearly 11 years after Anukwa first approached the National Industrial Court in November 2015 to challenge her dismissal from service.
Anukwa joined the NCAA in July 2001 and steadily climbed the ranks to become an assistant chief accountant on Grade Level 13, Step 08.
According to court records, she maintained an excellent performance record throughout her years of service.
However, her career took an unexpected turn following disagreements over a redeployment directive and issues surrounding her deferred annual leave.
The dispute eventually culminated in allegations that she had absconded from duty, leading to her dismissal.
Insisting that she was unfairly treated, Anukwa took the matter to court, arguing that the agency failed to follow its own disciplinary procedures before terminating her employment.
The NCAA, on its part, maintained that she disobeyed official directives, bypassed established reporting channels and remained absent from work without authorization.
After years of litigation, the National Industrial Court in Uyo delivered a judgment on December 13, 2024, in Anukwa’s favour.
Justice S.H. Danjidda held that the NCAA, as a statutory agency established under the Civil Aviation Act, is bound by conditions of service that carry the force of law.
The court found that the agency failed to properly query the claimant or subject her to the disciplinary procedures prescribed under its regulations before dismissing her. The court consequently declared the dismissal null and void, ordered her immediate reinstatement and directed the NCAA to pay all outstanding salaries, allowances and entitlements lost as a result of the dismissal.
Despite the judgment, Anukwa says she is yet to fully enjoy the fruits of her victory.
In a petition addressed to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, and the Head of Service, she appealed for intervention to ensure full compliance with the court’s orders.
For the former civil aviation worker, the legal victories represent more than financial compensation. They symbolize the restoration of a career interrupted and a reputation she believes was unfairly damaged.
The case has also drawn attention to the importance of due process in public service employment and the obligation of government agencies to comply with judicial decisions.
With the Court of Appeal now dismissing the NCAA’s latest attempt to delay enforcement, attention shifts to whether the agency will finally implement the court’s orders and bring an end to a dispute that has stretched across more than a decade.
For Anukwa, whose fight began in 2015, the latest ruling offers hope that the long wait for justice may finally be coming to an end.
