Lawyer sues Anambra agency over termination of appointment

From: Aloysius Attah, Onitsha

A legal Practitioner, Nkoli J.N. Ebede, has dragged the Anambra State Housing Development Corporation (ASHDC) and its Managing Director, Patrick Onochie Obianwu, before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Awka Judicial Division, over what she termed her wrongful termination of appointment as a Senor Legal Officer with the Corporation.

In the suit No. MIC/AWK/01/2017 before Justice Waziri Abali, the Claimant prayed the court for a declaration that her purported removal or termination from the services of the ASHCDC on the 16th June 2016 is null and void and of no effect.

Ebede, is also asking for a declaration that she continues to remain in the services and employment of the corporation and special damages which includes monthly salary from November 2015 till final judgment is delivered in the suit. Annual leave allowance from 2015 till final judgment is delivered and general damages of N500M.

The claimant is also seeking for an injunction restraining the defendants and its agents and servants from in any manner or form interfering with or disturbing her in the employment of the corporation without due regard with the conditions of service and contract she entered  with the corporation.

When the suit was mentioned for hearing yesterday, counsel to the defendants, E.C. Asogwa pleaded to be given time by the court to file their response to the motion on notice for filing out of time but counsel to the claimant, Onyechi Araka expressed reservations on the request stating that the defendants are buying time to cause unnecessary delay in the matter.

He noted that the claimant had filed her writ of summons and accompanying originating process in the suit on 18th January 2017 while the defendants were served on 20th January 2017 but as at 1st March 2017, the defendants have not responded to same.

The Presiding Judge after listening to both parties arguments finally adjourned the matter to 6th April 2017 to enable the defendants file their outstanding responses and commencement of the trial.