A National Industrial Court sitting in Port Harcourt has adjourned for amendment of the statement of Defence, in a suit filed by Dr Williams Abomaye-Nimenibo, against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, for unlawful termination of appointment.
Abomaye-Nimenibo had challenged his dismissal, praying the court to set aside the alleged suspension and subsequent dismissal from service by the Defendant.
He is also praying the court to reinstate him to the services of the Defendant and all benefits, entitlements, welfare packages be paid from 15th February 2018, till the date of judgement, including the promotions as Deputy Manager in the 2015 promotion exercise and in 2019 as full Manager on salary grade M 5.
He is also praying the court for the sum of twenty-five billion (25,000,000,000.00) naira be paid by the Defendant for breach of contract and unlawful dismissal.
During the court proceedings, Counsel representing the Defendant, Precious John-Mark, informed the court of the motion they filed to amend their statement of Defence, while Claimant Counsel objected to the motion for the Defendant to amend already amended statement.
After listening to arguments of Counsels in the matter, Justice Faustina Kola-Olalere adjourned the case to March 18, 2021, for hearing on the motion.
In an interview with judiciary correspondents, Counsel to the Claimant, said they opposed the application made by the Defendant as the same statement has been amended before, stressing that the dismissal of the Claimant is wrongful.
“The Defendant brought a motion to amend their pleadings which is their statement of Defence, they have amended it before and want to amend it again, we have not been served with said processes. We opposed the amendment with a reason that a party cannot approbate and reprobate”
On his part, Counsel representing the Defendant decline granting an interview.
