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From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
A former employee of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Ntima Chika Anya, has dragged the company before the National Industrial Court, Akure over alleged unlawful dismissal.
Anya, who was until his disengagement the company’s Territory Manager is seeking a ₦100 million damages from the company, claiming that his dismissal was not in tandem with the company’s rules of engagement.
He told the court that the termination of his appointment was wrong, unlawful and inhumane
Also joined in the suit was Mr Moshood Adejoro, who was his former Line Manager in the company.
The claimant opened his case through his counsel, Samuel Chukwudi Nmesi, who tendered 36 documentary exhibits in evidence before Justice K.D. Damulak.
The court admitted all documents and adjourned further hearing to November 27, 2025 for cross-examination by the defence counsel, Ade Abioye.
Anya, who served as Territory Manager for Ilorin/Offa, had alleged that his dismissal on October 30, 2020, violated due process and was a product of bias, witch-hunt, and gross unprofessional conduct by his immediate supervisor, Mr. Moshood Adejoro, and other top officials of Guinness Nigeria plc.
He told the court that despite submitting a medical report from Olanrewaju Hospital, Ilorin, which confirmed that his blood pressure was dangerously high, the company refused to allow him take his annual or sick leave.
Instead, he said he was allegedly forced to work during the COVID-19 lockdown and compelled to sell nearly expired Dubic Malt products.
Anya further accused the company of denying him access to proper medical care, forcing him out of hospital on the day his appointment was terminated and trivializing his hypertensive condition as “ordinary sickness.”
He maintained that his health deteriorated rapidly after the incident, leading to severe vision problems that now require corrective lenses.
He urged the court to hold that the purported Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) cited by the company as the basis for his dismissal was fraudulent and not formally initiated.
He noted that internal emails presented in court showed inconsistencies in the PIP timelines, suggesting deliberate intent to mislead the court.
The claimant also tendered several exhibits, including multiple medical reports, ECG scans, and referral letters to cardiologists, as well as commendation letters, salary review documents, and corporate awards for excellence he received in 2019 and 2020.
Anya’s counsel told the court that Guinness’s actions went beyond wrongful dismissal, describing them as “an attempted homicide” given the health risks and psychological trauma inflicted on his client.
He emphasized that the case was not only about justice for one man but also about ending a pattern of abuse of power within the organisation.
Medical reports presented to the court indicated that the claimant now requires urgent and intensive medical care, possibly abroad to manage the complications arising from uncontrolled hypertension.
The court, however, adjourned the matter to November 27, 2025 for continuation of cross-examination.
