From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Sacked Army General, Major General Ijioma Nwokoro, yesterday asked the National Industrial Court (NIC) sitting in Abuja to reinstate him as a serving officer in the Nigerian Army pending the determination of a suit challenging his compulsory retirement of June 9,2016.
In the suit, General Nwokoro, one of the 20 senior army officers
compulsorily retired last month claimed the action taken by the Nigerian army had caused him and family embarrassment and ridicule as the reasons for the retirement had linked him to offence he did not commit neither was he interrogated by the probe committee on Arms purchase.
Counsel to the Claimant, Benson Igbanoi who held the brief for Chief Mike Ozekhome, prayed the court to restore Major General Nwokoro to his position as at June 9 in the interim.
Arguing a motion ex-parte for an interim injunction following the absence of defendants, listed as the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff and minister of Defence who were absent in court , the counsel urged court to order parties to maintain status quo ante bellum.
According to the counsel, the order was necessary to stop the Nigerian army requirement that the claimant must complete all necessary forms for his retirement entitlements within 90 days or forfeit same.
Stating that the time has started to run since June 9 vide the compulsory letter of retirement, the counsel prayed the court to put it on hold until the suit is determined.
Igbanoi said that the defendants in the said letter of compulsory retirement had listed “serious offence, corruption,electoral malpractices as their reasons” for retiring Major General Nwokoro. But they did not give him any hearing at all,not to talk about fair hearing. He was just informed by his junior through a test message to his letter, the counsel told the court.
Sacked Army General asks court to reinstate him
