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<p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><b><u><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Representation:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">J. U. Offoaro for the Claimant<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Nnamdi Innocent Eze for the Defendant<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops: 0in"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">JUDGMENT</span></u></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">By a Complaint filed on the 27<sup>th</sup> day of March 2013, the Claimant claimed against the Defendant the following reliefs; <i> </i><o:p></o:p></span></p> <ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1"> <li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:110%; mso-bidi-language:HE">A Declaration that the dismissal of the Claimant from the services of the Defendant vide the letter dated 14<sup>th</sup> March, 2011 is illegal and unlawful. <o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:110%; mso-bidi-language:HE">The sum of <s>N</s>100,000.000.00 (One Million Naira) being special and general damages for the unlawful dismissal of the Claimant by the Defendant.<o:p></o:p></span></li> </ol> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:110%;mso-bidi-language: HE">The Complaint was accompanied by other relevant originating processes including the Statement of Claim, wherein the particulars of damages were broken down as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:110%;mso-bidi-language: HE"> (a) Special damages <o:p></o:p></span></p> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin-left:.2in;border-collapse:collapse;border:none;mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;mso-yfti-tbllook:1184;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-border-insideh:.5pt solid windowtext;mso-border-insidev:.5pt solid windowtext"> <tbody><tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">1.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Basic annual salary<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N603,200.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">2<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Transportation allowance<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N252,000.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">3<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Housing/rent allowance<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N420,000.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">4<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Lunch allowance<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N133,000.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">5<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Utility allowance<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N64,845.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">6<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Tea allowance<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N41,000.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">7<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Domestic staff allowance<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N55,000.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">8<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Entertainment allowance<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N40,000.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">9<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Passage allowance<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N402,000.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">10<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">13<sup>th</sup> month allowance<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N50,267.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">11<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Leave pay allowance<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N96640.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">12<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Staff pension contribution allowance<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N95,640.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">13<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Current guaranteed pay<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N2,253,464.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">14<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Variable pay allowance<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N250,000.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS""> </span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Total pay per annum<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N2,503,464,67</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS""><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">15<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Total payment for 25 years-service outstanding i.e (from 1/7/2011 – 2013) N2,503,464.67 per annum x 25 years<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N62,586,616.75<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">16<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Payment from March 2011 – June 2011 (four months) N2,503,464.67 x 4 months/12 = N208,612.97 x 4 months<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N834,489.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">17<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Payment for ten years-service award due i.e (from 1/6/2002 – 1/6/2011<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N204,240.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS""> </span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Sub-total (total pay)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><b><s><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N</span></s></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">63,625,345.75<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS""> </span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Gratuity for (30 years-service as per attached service years calculated by management/staff union<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS""> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N4,289,800.00<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS""> </span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Pension per annum (after 30 years-service) i.e (pension per month = N81,468.33)<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS""> </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N977,619.96<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="36" valign="top" style="width:27.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS""> </span></p> </td> <td width="462" valign="top" style="width:346.5pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">GRAND TOTAL<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td width="132" valign="top" style="width:99.0pt;border-top:none;border-left: none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><b><s><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">N</span></s></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">68,792,765.71<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:4.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:22.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in; line-height:normal;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo8;tab-stops:0in"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">b.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS""> Total special damages = <s>N</s>68,792,765.71<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">General damages = <s><u>N</u></s><u>31,207,234.29<o:p></o:p></u></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"">Total special and general damages = <b><s><u>N</u></s><u>100,000,000.00</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:4.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">Pleadings were exchanged and hearing commenced on the 10<sup>th</sup> day of December 2014. Parties called one witness each. The Claimant testified for herself as CW1 while Ufomadu Ugochukwu, a staff of the Defendant, testified as DW1. Hearing was concluded on the 15<sup>th</sup> day of February 2016 and parties were ordered to file their final written addresses in accordance with the Rules of this court. The Defendant’s counsel filed his address on the 31<sup>st</sup> day of March 2016 while the Claimant’s final address was filed on the 7<sup>th</sup> day of June 2016. Having duly regularized, parties adopted their final written addresses on the 14<sup>th</sup> day of July 2016. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:4.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">In the Defendant’s final address, counsel formulated two issues for determination: <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal;mso-list:l5 level1 lfo5"><b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">Whether the Collective Agreement between the Nigerian Employers Association of Banks, Insurance and Allied Institutions and the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions and the provisions as regards dismissal on which Claimant based her case applied to Claimant. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal;mso-list:l5 level1 lfo5"><b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">Whether from pleadings and evidence, the Claimant has made out any case against the Defendant to have the indulgence of court enure in her favour. </span></i></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language: HE"><o:p></o:p></span></li> </ol> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:4.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">Regarding issue one which counsel answered in the negative, counsel for the defendant referred the Court to the case of <b>NIGERIA-ARAB BANK LTD vs. SHUIABU (1991) 4 NWLR (Pt. 186) 450 at 469</b> where a Collective Agreement was described as <i>“at best a gentlemen's agreement, an extra legal document totally devoid of sanctions. It is a product of trade unionist's pressure”</i>.<i> </i>Counsel submitted that the Claimant had stated that Defendant did not comply with the letters of the Collective Agreement in dismissing her, and that failure to have complied with this agreement made her dismissal a nullity. The Collective Agreement was tendered in evidence and marked as EXHIBIT D. The Collective Agreement which commencement date was 1<sup>st</sup> June 2005 stated on its page iii that <i>“This Agreement shall apply to all categories of Employers <u>other than the Junior Staff </u>and the management staff engaged in the various establishments of the Association, excepting those employees who have left the service.” </i>(Underlining Counsel’s for emphasis). Meanwhile, the<i> </i>Claimant in paragraph 6 of her Statement of Claim averred thus: “The Claimant further asserts that while working at the Okigwe Branch of the Bank, she was under the direct control and supervision of the branch manager of the Bank who then was one Mrs. C.A. Pat-Nnaji. By the bank's procedure, it is the prerogative of the branch manager to assign specific duties to members of staff of the branch especially <u>junior staff which included the Claimant herein”</u> (Underlining counsel’s for emphasis). Also, the Claimant had under cross-examination admitted that the Collective Agreement covered her in spite of her pleading that she was a junior staff. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:4.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">It is counsel’s submission that the Claimant is bound by her pleadings and any evidence which is at variance with any averment in the pleadings goes to no issue, and therefore should be discarded and discountenanced by court. Thus, the Claimant’s inconsistency in her pleading that she was a junior staff while in the employ of the Defendant, and averring in evidence that she was a Senior Staff to make her benefit from the provisions of the Collective Agreement; shows inconsistency and as such, the Claimant is not a witness of truth that can be trusted. See <b>ONOMEDE vs. A.C.B. LTD (1997) 1 NWLR (Pt. 480) 123 at 145</b> and <b>OSUJI vs. EKEOCHA (2009) 39 NSCQR 532 at 590, 593-594</b>. Counsel urged the court to find that the Claimant is a false witness, that her pleadings were inconsistent with her evidence and on that score, dismiss this suit. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:4.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">Furthermore, counsel contended that the Collective Agreement which the Claimant referred to came into effect in 2005 after the Claimant was employed in 2001. The Claimant did not plead, and led no evidence to show any nexus between this agreement and her Contract of Employment, which she signed with the Defendant upon her employment. The Contract of Service Agreement was tendered in evidence and marked as EXHIBIT J. Counsel contended further that the document regulating the parties in this suit is the Contract of Service Agreement and not a collective agreement. A collective agreement standing alone is not binding on an individual employee and his employer, unless such a collective agreement is incorporated into the contract of service or adopted as part of the contract or condition of service. See <b>CHUKWUMAH vs. SHELL PETROLEUM NIG. LTD (1993) 4 NWLR (Pt. 289) 512</b> and <b>UNION BANK NIG. vs. EDET (1993) 4 NWLR (Pt. 287) 288</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:4.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">Similarly, counsel argued that the Claimant neither pleaded nor led any evidence to show that the Collective Agreement was incorporated into the Contract of Service Agreement which she signed with the Defendant, to bind the employer and the employee. Thus, the onus of proof as stated in Section 131 and 132 respectively of the Evidence Act 2011 did not shift, making the claims of the Claimant fail.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:4.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-language:HE"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">With respect to issue two, counsel submitted that the Claimant’s pleadings, evidence and admissions under cross examination are at variance and failed to crystalize into any form of evidence that the Court can utilize to award the reliefs in this suit. The Defendant had averred in paragraph 3 of its statement of defence that it signed a Contract of Service Agreement with the Claimant on the day she assumed duty with it. That Contract of Service Agreement was tendered in evidence on 10<sup>th</sup> December, 2014 and marked as EXHIBIT J. The Claimant had denied this document but when shown, agreed to it. It is counsel’s further submission that although the Claimant averred in paragraphs 12 and 13 of her statement of claim that she never committed any act of gross misconduct, the Claimant agreed under cross examination that the suppression of client cheques was done by Mrs. C. A. Pat–Nnaji. See Paragraph 4(k) of the Reply to the Statement of Defence. She averred in paragraph 2 of the Reply to the Statement of Defence that there is a Contract of Service Agreement between her and the Defendant, a fact she denied under cross-examination. The Claimant failed to explore and abide by the extant terms of the Agreement, which stated in Paragraph 2 - DUTIES AND SECRECY thus: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">“The official agrees to serve the Bank honestly, faithfully and diligently, and to comply with all the rules and regulations of the Bank from time to time affecting the Bank's staff and to conform to all orders which may from time to time be given to him by or on behalf of the Directors or Management, and duly, honestly and faithfully to account for all monies, securities, vouchers, bills, cheques, title deeds and other instruments which shall come into his hands as a servant of the Bank ... If the official shall become aware of any irregularity on the part of any other member of staff of the Bank which in the official's opinion affects the interest of the Bank, he shall give immediate information thereof to his manager, or next senior executive official of the Bank at which he is employed.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">Counsel argued that the Claimant agreed in paragraphs 6 and 7 respectively of the Reply to the Statement of Defence, that the approval of unauthorized credits amounting to <s>N</s>106,000,000 caused by the suppression of cheques through clearing department to which she was in charge caused the Defendant huge financial loss. This financial loss occurred in a department where she was in charge because laid down policies; rules and procedures were not followed and adhered to. The DISCIPLINARY AND SANCTION GRID, which regulates disciplinary measures, to be meted out to staff over infractions committed was tendered and admitted in evidence on 15<sup>th</sup> February 2016 as EXHIBIT D3. A cursory view of the Sanction Grid shows that the wrong, which was proved to have been committed by the Claimant, came under PROCEDURAL (CATEGORY 2) and/or GENERAL (No. 4). In both infractions, the sanction among other sanctions that may be applied by the Defendant is DISMISSAL, and this was applied against the Claimant. The Claimant who continued to state that the irregularities that caused huge loss to the Defendant were caused by C.A. Pat-Nnaji, did not call her as a witness to testify and confirm her testimonies. She did not challenge EXHIBIT D in any way. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:4.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">It is counsel’s contention that having agreed that she signed a Contract of Service Agreement with the Defendant, and which document was tendered in evidence, the Claimant is bound by it. Having also proved that the Claimant acted mala fide in her service to the Defendant and made it incur huge unrecovered losses, the Claimant cannot be heard to complain of the outcome of her acts as stated in the Contract of Service Agreement which she signed. It is counsel’s opinion that parties are bound by the agreement they willingly entered into, and that the only duty of court is to interpret and enforce the terms see: <b>V.B.A. LTD. vs. PENNY MART LTD. (1992) 5 NWLR (Pt. 240) 228 at 234</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:4.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">Furthermore, counsel submitted that in the present case, the terms of this contract of service were willfully disobeyed by Claimant, and the courts have held that willful disobedience of a lawful and reasonable order of an employer by an employee is a definite act of misconduct which at common law attracts the penalty of summary dismissal because such willful disobedience is a reflection of a total disregard of an essential condition of a contract of service which is that a servant must obey a proper, reasonable and lawful order of the master, in default of which their contract relationship cannot be expected to continue. See: <b>SULE vs. NIGERIA COTTON BOARD (1985) 2 NWLR 17.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:4.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">Similarly, counsel asserted that the Contract of Service referred to in the extant case made the Defendant the sole judge of what shall constitute a breach and/or misconduct to entitle it to dismiss any staff including the Claimant. Counsel referred to the case of <b>NEW NIGERIA BANK LTD vs. ONIOVOSA, (1995) 9 NWLR (Pt. 419) 327 at 334</b> where it was held that misconduct is what the employer says is misconduct.<i> </i>Counsel reiterated the point that the Defendant had taken steps to liberalize its Disciplinary and Sanction mechanism, so that every staff knows what faces him in case of any infraction. It is counsel’s further argument that the Defendant gave the Claimant fair hearing as captured under Section 36(l) of the 1999 Constitution and tendered in evidence EXHIBIT D4 which is the question and answer in long hand between the Auditors of the Defendant and the Claimant. The Claimant was given an opportunity to state her case. Investigations continued internally thereafter, based on the answers given by the Claimant. The Claimant however did not abate her operations against the procedure of the Defendant, leading to the issuance of QUERY dated 16<sup>th</sup> July 2009, which was tendered and admitted in evidence on 10<sup>th</sup> December 2014. The query was explicit and dealt with kite flying and suppression of cheques in a department in which the Claimant was in charge. Her refusal to answer the query was for all intents and purposes, an admission. If she had answered the query and given any explanation, it would have been a piece of evidence for the Defendant to use in arriving at a decision. Counsel urged the court to utilize the letter from the Public Complaints Commission ‘EXHIBIT K’ as persuasive, and dismiss this suit. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:4.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">Again, counsel submitted that the questions asked during cross-examination by the Claimant were not such in the realm that made the Claimant prove her case. No questions were targeted at the Claimant's employment with the Defendant and/or the two issues the Claimant canvassed as the grouse, which brought her to court as captured in Paragraphs 12 and 13 of her Statement of Claim. Neither were questions on the dismissal of the Claimant, nor any issue regarding collective agreement generally and Article 4(iv) (a)-(c) in particular or indeed the issue of misconduct or opportunity to be heard, asked. The Claimant also did not lead any evidence to ground her plea to court to grant her any damages whether in the general, special or both. Counsel submitted further that where evidence is not led to prove claims in pleadings, such claims are taken as abandoned. See <b>AMASIKE vs. THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION & ANOR (2010) 43 NSCQR 581 at 654</b>; <b>OSUJI vs. EKEOCHA (2009) 39 NSCQR P. 523 @ 590</b>. Counsel urged the court to hold that claimant has not made out any case and dismiss this suit. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:4.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">In the Claimant's final written address filed on the 7<sup>th</sup> day of June 2016, counsel identified two issues for determination, to wit:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">1. Whether the Claimant's dismissal by the Defendant was not unlawful and wrongful.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-language:HE">2. Whether Exhibits D2 and D3 ought to be expunged for being inadmissible</span></i></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:4.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">On issue one, counsel submitted that the Claimant in her evidence elucidated the fact that she worked meritoriously in many capacities while with the Defendant. There is no evidence to show that the Claimant was ever found wanting. Counsel further submitted that all evidence adduced by the Claimant were neither controverted nor challenged that the Claimant was in the clearing department and being directly under the control and supervision of the branch manager. In July 2009, when the said branch manager was to proceed on leave and was to be relieved by one C. N. Ezeala, the said Mrs. C. A. Pat Nnaji during that period brought out clearing demand notices with attached cheques from Owerri clearing centre with Okigwe branch receipt stamp on schedule dated 13/02/2008<i> </i>while the said branch manager brought same out for processing on 15/7/2009<i> </i>instructing the Claimant to give re-imbursement advice to Owerri clearing centre and debit customers. When the Claimant noticed this, she became circumspect as the dates on the schedules showed that they were late and overdue and so she quickly reported her discovery to Mr. C. N. Ezeala who was now Okigwe branch manager, Mr. C. N. Ezeala who had erroneously had a query issued to the Claimant, withdrew same upon the Claimant's report and explanation. It is counsel’s argument that the Claimant did comply with the provisions of the contract of service, which she entered into. The contract of service required her to report any form of irregularity on the part of any staff to the branch manager or next most senior staff. The Claimant noticed irregularity and acts of suppression of cheques on the part of the manager who was her supervisor and next most senior staff to her. By the contract of service, the Claimant could only report this irregularity to her manager who incidentally is the culprit. Instead the Claimant reported this irregularity to the incoming branch manager when he took over. This piece of evidence was neither challenged nor controverted thereby it is deemed admitted. See <b>OBINECHE vs. AKUSIOBI (2010) All FWLR (Pt. 533) 1839</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">Furthermore, counsel argued that despite the clear exculpation of the Claimant of any wrongdoing and against fair hearing, the Claimant was dismissed on ground of gross misconduct. It is counsel’s submission that an employee who is accused of misconduct must be availed the opportunity of being heard and calling a witness before his or her contract of service can be terminated. See <b>FUT YOLA vs. MAIWUYA (2013) All FWLR (Pt. 677) 753</b>. Counsel contended that the Claimant was not heard, was not given an opportunity to call witnesses, in totality was not given fair hearing by the Defendant irrespective of her extra steps in letting the Defendant know what her manager was doing and based on the contents of Exhibit D4. Instead, she was punished for another person's wrongful deeds. Counsel urged the court to hold that the Claimant's dismissal by the Defendant was unlawful and wrongful. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:4.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">With respect to issue two, counsel stated that the Defendant's counsel had on 15/02/2016<i> </i>tendered Exhibit D2 which is a photocopy of a Zenith Bank cheque and Exhibit D3 which is a document titled <b>sanction grid</b> and according to him, Counsel obtained the leave of court to raise objections to their admissibility in the final written address. Counsel urged the court to expunge these two exhibits on the following grounds:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal;mso-list:l8 level1 lfo6"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language: HE">Exhibit D2 is a photocopy and same contravenes Section 89 of the Evidence Act 2011. The Defendant did not lay proper foundation for the tendering of the said document. The DW1, through whom the document was tendered only said the original is in their vault. This is clearly in contravention of Section 89(c) of the Evidence Act, 2011 which stipulates that secondary evidence may be given of the existence, condition or content of a document when the original has been destroyed or lost and in the latter case all possible searches has been made for it.<o:p></o:p></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:normal;mso-list:l8 level1 lfo6"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language: HE">Exhibit D3 is a Computer generated document. Tendering of same clearly negates Section 84(1) and (2) of the Evidence Act, 2011, which provides that a document produced by a computer shall be admissible as evidence of any fact stated in it of which direct oral evidence would be admissible, if it is shown that the conditions in subsection (2) of this section are satisfied in relation to the statement and computer in question. The conditions referred to in subsection (1) of this section are: <o:p></o:p></span></li> </ol> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in; line-height:normal;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:114%; mso-bidi-language:HE;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">a.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:114%; mso-bidi-language:HE;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">That the document containing the statement was produced by the computer during </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:109%; mso-bidi-language:HE">a </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-font-width:114%;mso-bidi-language:HE;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">period over which the computer was used regularly to store or process information for the purpose </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-font-width:116%;mso-bidi-language:HE">of </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:114%;mso-bidi-language:HE; mso-bidi-font-style:italic">any activities regularly carried on over that period, whether for profit or not by anybody, whether corporate or not or by any individual. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in; line-height:normal;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:114%; mso-bidi-language:HE;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">b.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:114%; mso-bidi-language:HE;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">That over that period there was regularly supplied to the computer in the ordinary course </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:116%; mso-bidi-language:HE">of </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-font-width:114%;mso-bidi-language:HE;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">those activities information </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-font-width:120%;mso-bidi-language:HE">of </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:114%;mso-bidi-language:HE; mso-bidi-font-style:italic">the kind contained in the statement or </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:120%; mso-bidi-language:HE">of </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-font-width:114%;mso-bidi-language:HE;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">the kind from which the information </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:116%;mso-bidi-language:HE">so </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:114%; mso-bidi-language:HE;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">contained is derived. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in; line-height:normal;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:114%; mso-bidi-language:HE;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">c.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:114%; mso-bidi-language:HE;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">That throughout the material part </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-font-width:116%;mso-bidi-language:HE">of </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:114%;mso-bidi-language:HE; mso-bidi-font-style:italic">that period the computer was operating properly or if not, that in any respect in which it was not operating properly or was out </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:120%; mso-bidi-language:HE">of </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-font-width:114%;mso-bidi-language:HE;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">operation during that part </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-font-width:116%;mso-bidi-language:HE">of </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:114%;mso-bidi-language:HE; mso-bidi-font-style:italic">that period was not such </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:116%; mso-bidi-language:HE">as </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-font-width:114%;mso-bidi-language:HE;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">to affect the production </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-font-width:120%;mso-bidi-language:HE">of </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:114%;mso-bidi-language:HE; mso-bidi-font-style:italic">the document or the accuracy </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:120%; mso-bidi-language:HE">of </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; mso-font-width:114%;mso-bidi-language:HE;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">its contents, <br> and <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in; line-height:normal;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-fareast-font-family: "Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:114%; mso-bidi-language:HE;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">d.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:114%; mso-bidi-language:HE;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">That the information contained in the statement reproduces or is derived from information supplied to the computer in the ordinary course </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:120%;mso-bidi-language:HE">of </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-font-width:114%; mso-bidi-language:HE;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">those activities. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">From the foregoing section, counsel submitted that no foundation was laid for the tendering of Exhibit D3 in line with Section 84 of the Evidence Act, 2011. Counsel urged the court to enter judgment in favour of the Claimant.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:8.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:2.0in;text-align:justify;text-indent: .5in"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">COURT’s DECISION<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Having heard from the learned counsels to the parties, I will now consider the case. In doing that, it is necessary that the facts of the case as presented from the angle of both parties be examined first. The facts of the Claimant’s case as narrated in her evidence as the only witness in her case, are that </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">she was employed by the defendant in 2001 as an Officer on Grade Level GR7 on an annual salary of <s>N</s>335,589.00 </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">and she was posted to work at the Defendant’s Okigwe branch, Imo State upon her employment. Her employment was later confirmed by the Defendant on 26<sup>th</sup> June 2002 as Officer III with an annual salary of <s>N</s>335,589.00. The Claimant stated that the Defendant has a condition of service regulating its affairs with its employees and guides disciplinary procedure. While working at the Defendant’s Okigwe branch, the Claimant was under the direct control and supervision of the branch manager, one Mrs. C.A. Pat Nnaji. It was the branch manager who assigns specific duties to staff in the branch, especially junior staff of which she was included. In that respect, the said branch manager assigned the duty of settlement or clearing of cheques to the Claimant. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Mrs. C. A. Pat Nnaji was to proceed on leave in July 2009 and she was to be relieved by one Mr. C. N. Ezeala. During her handing over, Mrs. C. A. Pat Nnaji brought out clearing demand notices with attached cheques from Owerri clearing centre with Okigwe branch receipt stamp on the schedule dated 13/02/2008<i> </i>but which<i> </i>Mrs. C. A. Pat Nnaji brought out for processing on 15/7/2009 and<i> </i>instructed the Claimant to give re-imbursement advice to Owerri clearing centre and debit customers. The Claimant became cautious on noticing the late and overdue dates on the schedules and she quickly reported her discovery to the new branch manager, Mr. C. N. Ezeala, who instructed the Claimant to process the instruments after having the branch secretary to make photocopies for him. After processing the instruments, Mrs. C. A. Pat Nnaji was informed and she authorized and also signed the entries.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">On 14/4/2011, the Claimant received a letter dated 14/03/2011 and signed by one Mike Iyela, dismissing the Claimant from service with effect from the date of the letter, on ground of gross misconduct. The Claimant stated that she did not commit any act adjudged to be gross misconduct before she was dismissed. She was not queried or written any letter accusing her of gross misconduct. She was also not given an opportunity to be heard on the allegation of gross misconduct before she was dismissed. Also, that her dismissal offends her right of fair hearing under Section 36 of the 1999 constitution and Article 4 (iv) (a)-(c) of the Banks Collective Agreement. The Claimant said she appealed to the Defendant for review or reversal of the dismissal by a letter dated 30/3/2011, but the Defendant replied in a letter dated 28/7/2011, refusing the Claimant’s appeal. The Claimant asserted that consequent upon her dismissal, she lost the opportunity of working with the Defendant bank till her retirement age and therefore claims the reliefs she sought in this suit. The Claimant also adopted a further witness statement on oath sworn to on 6<sup>th</sup> November 2014. I shall make reference to relevant evidence from that deposition when necessary in the course of this judgment.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The defence of the Defendant, as heard from DW1, is that the Claimant was employed by the Defendant in 2001 and dismissed her in March 2011 for gross misconduct on account of suppression and kite flying of cheques. The Claimant committed these acts against the rules, regulations and procedure of the Defendant. The Claimant was assigned the duty of clearing cheques and settlements at the Okigwe branch. The terms of employment in the Defendant require a staff not to discharge duty not in line with procedure even if authorized by a superior. Thus, each staff bears the consequences of their actions. In July 2009, Mr. C.N. Nzeala noticed that the Claimant was not complying with the Defendant’s procedure on cheque lodgment and clearance. He gave the Claimant a query but the Claimant refused to respond to it. Before this, the Defendant’s auditors had quizzed the Claimant over the issue of suppression and kite flying of cheques of one of the Defendant’s customers, Ezike Anthony Ndubuisi. The Claimant made both oral and written statements to the Auditors, and after the audit, a report was produced which indicted the Claimant. The act of suppression and kite flying of cheques were acts of gross misconduct and all those found culpable with the Claimant were also dismissed. The Defendant acted in line with procedure and extant law in dismissing the Claimant, and the Claimant was given fair hearing. DW1 explained that the collective agreement was made between unions in the banking industry and not between the Claimant and Defendant. The Defendant has a contract of service and other rules and regulations governing its service relationship with its employee. T</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">he Claimant was a junior staff and was therefore not covered by the Collective Agreement.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">In determining this case, the issues which in my view arise from the facts for determination are:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent: -.5in"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">1. Whether the dismissal of the Claimant from the Defendant’s employment was wrongful. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">2. Whether the Claimant is entitled to the reliefs sought in this suit.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">In the Claimant’s final address, Counsel stated that during the evidence of DW1, he the Claimant’s counsel had indicated his objection to the admissibility of some documents tendered by DW1. They are a </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">photocopy of Zenith Bank cheque and a document titled sanction grid. According to Counsel, he </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE">was granted leave to argue the objection in the final written address. Let me quickly point out here, that on the 15<sup>th</sup> day of February 2015, during the testimony of DW1, Counsel for the Claimant never raised any objection to the admissibility of the Zenith Bank cheque and the document titled sanction grid. The documents were therefore admitted in evidence without objection, and marked as E</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">xhibit D2 and D3 respectively</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">. It is clearly a misrepresentation of facts for counsel to say in his final address that he raised such an objection during trial. The court is bound by its records. The document to which Counsel objected is the one marked Exhibit D4. According to the records, leave was granted counsel to address his objection to Exhibit D4 in his final address. However, Counsel did not address the objection to Exhibit D4. Rather, he chose to raise a fresh objection to documents he did not object to earlier, and he now gives a wrong impression in his final address. The Court seriously frowns at such deliberate use of Counsel’s final address to mislead the court. As earlier stated, I am bound by my records. Counsel’s objection is therefore overruled. It is also my finding that his earlier indication of objection to the admissibility of Exhibit D4 is deemed abandoned, having not raised same in his final address. In any case, t</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">he objection to the admissibility of the documents is premised on the provisions of the Evidence Act. Let me mention it here that this court is more interested in doing substantial justice than dwell on technical matters. Section 12 (2) of the National Industrial Court Act has permitted this court to depart from the provisions of the Evidence Act where the interest of justice so demands. I have gone the extra mile in spite of the foregoing, and have examined the documents in question. I find that they are pleaded and relevant. I hold that they are properly in evidence.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">ISSUE ONE</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The first claim of the Claimant is for a declaration that her dismissal from the employment of the Defendant for alleged gross misconduct without giving her a fair hearing is contrary to Section 36 of the 1999 constitution and Article 4 (iv) (a-c), Section 1 Part II of the collective agreement and therefore wrongful, unlawful and a nullity. Let me quickly point out an issue arising from this claim sought by the Claimant. A look at the Claimant’s employment letter, other documents of the employment tendered in this case and the incorporation status of the Defendant as pleaded in paragraph 2 of the Claimant’s statement of facts, it is not in doubt that the relationship between the Claimant and the Defendant was a master and servant relationship. The law is settled that in such employment, termination of the servant’s employment or dismissal of the servant from employment cannot be considered unlawful or null and void.</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">See <b>OPUO vs. NNPC (2002) FWLR (Pt. 84) 11 at 27; UNION BEVERAGES LTD vs. OWOLABI (1988) 1 NWLR (Pt. 86) 128</b>.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> In </span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">ESIEVWORE vs. NEPA (2002) FWLR (Pt. 124) 398 at 408, </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">the Supreme Court explained the position thus:-<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">“<b><i>Employment with statutory backing must be terminated in the way and manner prescribed by the relevant statute and any manner of termination inconsistent therewith is null and void and of no effect. But in other cases governed by only agreement of parties and not by statute, removal by way of termination of appointment or dismissal will be in the form agreed. Any other form connotes only wrongful termination or dismissal but not to declare such dismissal null and void.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">It is clear from this statement by the apex court that a declaration to the effect that a dismissal is unlawful, null and void is available only to employment governed by statute. In master and servant relationship, as in this case, it is a general rule that where in the employment contract a procedure is provided for termination of the contract or dismissal, none compliance with that procedure </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">amounts merely to wrongful dismissal or termination but does not render the act unlawful or null and void. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">See </span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">EZE vs. SPRING BANK PLC (2012) All FWLR (Pt. 609) 1076; UZONDU vs. U.B.N PLC (2008) All FWLR (Pt. 443) 1389</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Therefore, in considering the Claimant’s allegation with respect to her dismissal, the assignment will be limited to whether the dismissal was wrongful or not.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The cause of dispute in this suit was the dismissal of the Claimant </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">vide the Defendant’s letter dated 14<sup>th</sup> March, 2011</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">. The letter is in evidence as Exhibit C. The reason for the claimant’s dismissal was stated in the 1<sup>st</sup> paragraph of the letter thus: <b><i>“You are hereby dismissed from the bank’s service with effect from 14<sup>th</sup> March 2011 for gross misconduct</i></b></span><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">.” </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">It is clear from this content of the dismissal letter that the Claimant was dismissed for “gross misconduct”. Having examined the facts and evidence adduced by the Claimant, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">the identified reasons advanced by her for alleging that her dismissal was </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">wrongful</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> are these: (1) </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">she did not commit any act adjudged to be gross misconduct (2) she was not queried or written any letter accusing her of gross misconduct and was not given opportunity to be heard on the allegation of gross misconduct before she was dismissed (3) her dismissal offends her right to fair hearing under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 4 (iv) (a)-(c) of Banks Collective Agreement. These allegations are contained in paragraphs 12 and 13 of the statement of facts.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">It is a known principle in a master and servant employment that the employer has the right to terminate the employment or dismiss the employee at any time and with or without a reason. See<b> TEXACO NIG. PLC vs. KEHINDE (2002) FWLR (Pt. 94) 143 at 160</b>. The termination or dismissal can only be wrongful when contrary to the condition of service. Therefore, where wrongful termination of employment or dismissal from employment is alleged, the terms of a contract of service are the usual source or foundation in deciding whether the dismissal or termination was wrongful. That is to say allegation of wrongfulness of dismissal must be founded on the terms of the condition of service. In <b>UZONDU vs. U.B.N PLC (supra) at 1440-1441</b>, it was held that in an action for wrongful termination of employment or dismissal, the employee must prove the following-<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.75in;text-align:justify;text-indent: -.5in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo9"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">i.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">That he was employed by the defendant,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.75in;text-align:justify;text-indent: -.5in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo9"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">ii.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The terms and condition of his employment,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.75in;text-align:justify;text-indent: -.5in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo9"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">iii.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">who can appoint and remove him,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.75in;text-align:justify;text-indent: -.5in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo9"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">iv.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The circumstances under which his appointment can be terminated,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.75in;text-align:justify;text-indent: -.5in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo9"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">v.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The procedure for termination or dismissal,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.75in;text-align:justify;text-indent: -.5in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo9"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">vi.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The manner in which the termination of his appointment or dismissal breached the said terms and conditions of his employment.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.25in;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">See also <b>PETROLEUM TRAINING INSTITUTE vs. MATTHEW (2012) All FWLR (Pt. 623) 1949 at 1967</b>; <b>ZIIDEEH vs. RIVERS STATE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION (2007) All FWLR (Pt. 354) 243.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Therefore, in order to convince this court that her dismissal was wrongful, the Claimant must plead and prove the circumstances under which she can be dismissed; the procedure for dismissal under the condition of service and the manner in which her dismissal breached the terms and conditions of her employment. In paragraph 5 of her statement of facts, the Claimant pleaded that the Defendant has a condition of service regulating its affairs with its employees which also guides disciplinary procedure including dismissal. But nowhere else, either in her pleading or evidence, did she mention or relate her dismissal to the condition of service. In fact, her case about her dismissal are simply that she did not commit any act adjudged to be gross misconduct; she was not queried or written any letter accusing her of gross misconduct and was not given opportunity to be heard on the allegation of gross misconduct before she was dismissed; and that her dismissal offends her right of fair hearing under section 36 of 1999 Constitution and Article 4 (iv) (a)-(c) of Banks Collective Agreement. She did not say that these factors are contained in the condition of service or violated the condition of service. The Claimant also did not plead specific terms of the condition of service and did not put any such document in evidence. Basically, the Claimant has placed nothing before this court from which to deduce whether the factors alleged as constituting wrongfulness of her dismissal was a breach of the condition of service. By failing to relate her allegation of wrongful dismissal to the condition of service implies that the Claimant has failed to discharge the burden placed on her</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">. In </span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">TEXACO NIG. PLC vs. KEHINDE (supra) at 157, </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">it was held thus:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify"><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">“The terms of the contract of service are the foundation of any case where the issue of wrongful termination of dismissal of employment falls to be determined. Therefore where an employee complains that his employment has been wrongfully terminated or dismissed, he has the onus to produce before the court the terms and condition of employment and follow same up by proving in what manner the said terms and conditions were breached by the employer. It follows therefore that the success or other wise of such a party depends solely on the terms and conditions of that employment since the court is not permitted to go outside the agreed terms and conditions”. </span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.25in;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 5pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">In this case, the Claimant has not made out any case of a breach of the condition of service with respect to her dismissal. In the circumstance, the Claimant’s case is already weak. Her claim for a declaration that her dismissal was wrongful ought to be dismissed at this point. I have mentioned above that the Claimant did rather base her allegation of wrongful dismissal on lack of fair hearing and non-compliance with the terms of a collective agreement. Although this court cannot consider any other issue outside the terms and conditions of the employment in relation to the Claimant’s alleged wrongful dismissal, I am however inclined to examine these allegations before coming to a conclusion on the Claimant’s case.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">As observed, the Claimant found her allegation that her dismissal was wrongful on, among others, a Collective Agreement admitted in evidence as Exhibit D. This fact appears evident in relief (a) of the statement of facts and paragraph 13 of the statement of facts where the Claimant averred that, besides Section 36 of 1999 Constitution, her dismissal was contrary to Article 4 (iv) (a)-(c) of the Banks Collective Agreement. The Collective agreement, Exhibit D, was made on 1<sup>st</sup> June 2005 between the Nigeria Employers’ Association of Banks, Insurance and Allied Institutions and the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions. The Defendant has contended in paragraph 3 of its statement of defence that the Claimant cannot take advantage of the said collective agreement on the ground that it is not a service agreement between the Claimant and the Defendant. In paragraph 3 of her reply to the statement of defence, same as in paragraph 2 of her additional evidence, the Claimant stated that the collective agreement between the union, of which she is a member and the Defendant is superior to the internal condition of service of the Defendant. Let me mention here that the collective agreement has specified the category of employees to whom it applies. The 2<sup>nd</sup> party to the agreement is the <i>Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions</i> and the agreement contained at page iii thus<b>: </b></span><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">“This Agreement shall apply to all categories of Employers other than the Junior Staff and the management staff engaged in the various establishments of the Association, excepting those employees who have left the service.”</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> That is to say junior staffs in the members of the Nigeria Employers’ Association of Banks, Insurance and Allied Institutions are excluded from the agreement. The question at this point is whether the Claimant is a senior staff for her to take advantage of the collective agreement? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">In her evidence, the Claimant said she was employed on grade level GR7 (4p) and was confirmed as Officer III. In paragraph 7 of her main deposition, the Claimant made this court to understand that <i>“it is the prerogative of the branch manager to assign specific duties to members of staff of the branch especially junior staff which included the Claimant</i>”. When the Claimant was cross examined by the Defendant’s counsel on 10/12/2014, the Claimant told this court that she </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">was a junior staff while in the Defendant’s employment and she was never promoted till her dismissal. By her own evidence, the Claimant has made it clear that she was a junior staff under the Defendant’s employment. In effect, she falls into the category of staff excluded from the collective agreement. In my view, the Claimant cannot rely on any provision of the said collective agreement to say that her dismissal was wrongful. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Assuming, but not so holding, that the Claimant even comes within the category of staff covered in the collective agreement, can she found her case against the Defendant on that agreement? It is observed that the Claimant was employed into the service of the Defendant in June 2001 while the collective agreement was made in June 2005. The collective agreement was made while the Claimant’s employment was subsisting. In such a case, before the Claimant can allege a breach of a collective agreement made between employers association, of which the Defendant is presumably a member, and employees associations in respect of her employment, she must show that the terms of the agreement have been incorporated into </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">the contract of service or adopted as part of the condition of service.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> It is settled law that collective agreements between employees unions and employers associations are not intended or capable of giving individual employees right to litigate over an alleged breach of their terms as may be conceived by them to have affected their interest nor are they meant to supplant or even supplement their contract of service. Failure to act in strict compliance with collective labour agreement is not justiciable except its provisions have been expressly adopted either in the letter of appointment or in subsequent communication varying the terms of employment before the employee can enforce its content against the employer. See <b>RECTOR, KWARA STATE POLYTECHNIC vs. ADEFILA (2008) ALL FWLR (Pt. 431) 914 at 958-959; BANK OF THE NORTH LTD vs. ADEGOKE (2008) All FWLR (Pt. 398) 263 at 289; OGUEJIEFOR vs. SIEMENS LTD. (2008) All FWLR (Pt. 398) 378 at 390; ANAJA vs. UBA (2011) All FWLR (Pt. 600) 1289 at 1300. </b></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">In this case, the collective agreement, which was not in existence at the time of the Claimant’s employment, could not have been incorporated into the Claimant’s employment by reference. See </span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">TEXACO NIG. PLC vs. KEHINDE (supra) at 161. </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Furthermore, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">the Claimant did not show that the Defendant adopted the provisions of the collective agreement as part of the Claimant’s condition of service. It is thus obvious that the essentials that could give the right to the Claimant to enforce the terms of the collective agreement against the Defendant have not been shown. The Claimant cannot rely on the collective agreement in this case. In the result, and in view of all the foregoing, the Claimant has not been able to prove that the dismissal is wrongful by reason of non-compliance with the condition of service or the collective agreement. </span><b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The other reason pleaded by the Claimant in her allegation of wrongful dismissal is that she was not given fair hearing. It is her case, as pleaded by her in paragraphs 12 and 13 of her statement of facts, that she was neither queried, written any letter alleging any misconduct against her nor given opportunity to be heard on the allegation before she was dismissed. I must point out once again that the Claimant has not alleged that the requirement for query, letter of misconduct or hearing before dismissal was a term of the condition of service. She only alleged that her dismissal offends her constitutional right of fair hearing under Section 36 of 1999 Constitution. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">It must be mentioned that in master and servant employment, what determines wrongfulness of a dismissal is the terms of the contract of service and not lack of fair hearing. See <b>OSAKWE vs. NIGERIAN PAPER MILL (1998) 7 SCNJ 222 at 231. </b>However, i</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">t must still be stressed that the notion of fair hearing, as we have it in a master and servant relationship, is not the complex requirement under the said section of the Constitution. Fair hearing i</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">n master and servant relationship is no more than disclosing the allegation to the employee and giving opportunity to the employee to answer to the allegation. In <b>NATIONAL BANK OF NIGERIA vs. OMOTAYO (2002) FWLR (Pt. 114) 454 at 466, </b>it was held that-</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">“T<i>o satisfy the rule of natural justice and fair hearing, a person likely to be affected by a disciplinary proceeding must be given adequate notice of the allegation against him to enable him make a representation in his own defence</i></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">”.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1"><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Again, in <b>NEPA vs. ENYONG </b></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">(2003) FWLR (Pt. 175) 452 </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">at 472</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">, it was held as follows- <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">“W<b><i>here an employee is confronted with an allegation of crime by the employer and the former is given an opportunity of explaining himself, then he cannot later turn around to say he was not given a fair hearing”</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Accordingly, it is clear that once the employee is confronted with the allegation and opportunity is given to him react to same, the requirement of fair hearing is satisfied. The question can now be raised whether the Claimant was given a hearing before her dismissal? The Defendant denied the Claimant’s allegation of not having been given fair hearing and, through DW1, told this court that at a time, the Defendant’s auditors had questioned the Claimant over the issue of suppression and kite flying of cheques of one of the Defendant’s customers, Ezike Anthony Ndubuisi. The Claimant made both oral and written statements to the Auditors and after the audit, a report was produced which indicted the Claimant. Later in July 2009, Mr. C.N. Nzeala noticed that the Claimant was not complying with the Defendant’s procedure on cheque lodgment and clearance. Mr. C.N. Nzeala gave the Claimant a query but the Claimant refused to answer the query. The query, dated 16<sup>th</sup> July 2009, was admitted from the Claimant under cross examination and it is in evidence as Exhibit I. Admitted from DW1 as Exhibit D4 is a document which he said is the record of the auditors’ interview with the Claimant. But the claimant, in her further evidence, stated that the query dated 16<sup>th</sup> July 2009 was not a query as such but an instruction from Mr. Ezeala to all members of staff that no entry should be passed into General Ledger Account No. 57510555688664 without his consent or approval. The Claimant also said in her further evidence that because the said query was not connected to issue of suppression of cheque, Mr. Ezeala later asked her to discountenance it and that was why she did not answer it. She also stated in her further evidence that the Defendant’s auditor visited the branch, invited her, asked her questions pertaining to clearing of cheques and questions were raised which she answered. When the Claimant identified Exhibit I under cross examination, she added that the query was given to her on 16<sup>th</sup> July 2009 by C.N. Ezeala but she did not reply the query. From the foregoing, it is not in dispute that the Claimant was given a query and also appeared before the Defendant’s auditors. The only dispute I see here is the Claimant’s contention that both the query and the audit were not connected with the allegation of suppression of cheque and therefore had nothing to do with her dismissal.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The Claimant pleaded that she was dismissed on ground of misconduct and in both her statement of facts and reply to the Defendant’s statement of defence, she pleaded that her duty at the branch was settlement and clearing of cheques and her dismissal was connected to allegations of suppression of cheques in the branch. She also clarified under cross examination that although no reason was given for her dismissal, except as stated simply to be gross misconduct, she later discovered on further inquiry that it was due to suppression of cheques. Now, in respect of what act was the query issued to the Claimant? The query, Exhibit I, is dated 16<sup>th</sup> July 2009 to the Claimant by C.N. Ezeala, a Chief Marketing Officer of the Defendant bank. It was alleged against the Claimant in the query that on 14/7/2009, a customer, Christian Emeka Okoli, paid in a cheque of <s>N</s>4,750,000.00 from Zenith bank which would have gone for normal clearing but the Claimant unilaterally placed funds into the customer’s account without authority. She also debited the customer’s account at separate times with returned cheques which were lodged by the customer several months before. In view of these allegations, the Claimant was required to <i>“explain to the undersigned why you have decided not to give heed to constituted authority and also not in compliance with laid down procedure of cheque lodgments and return of cheques, considering the excess time in returning the cheques as against clearing period</i>”. The Claimant received this query which she admitted she did not reply. Also, Exhibit D4 contains question and answer of the audit session involving the claimant. The claimant has admitted that this interview took place and she answered the questions put to her. From the questions and answer on the Exhibit, the inquiry related to issue of suppression and clearing of cheque. The subject was the account of a customer, Anthony Ezike.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Both the Claimant and DW1 have explained the meaning of the term “suppression of cheque”. The Claimant under cross examination explained that it means keeping cheques for longer than necessary. DW1, also under cross examination, said it means withholding an instrument when it ought to have been presented. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">In both the query and the audit session, the subject was the issue of suppression of cheque. That is to say </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">the Claimant was questioned by the Defendant’s auditors on the issue of suppression of cheque and she was later also given query on a similar allegation of suppression of cheques. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">In fact, she did not reply the query. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The Claimant herself admitted that the misconduct for which she was dismissed bothered on suppression of cheque. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">That is to say the Claimant was, all the while before her dismissal on 14/3/2011, aware that the allegation of suppression of cheque was hanging on her neck. How then does the Claimant claim she was not given fair hearing?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> In my view, her allegation that she was not given hearing before her dismissal is unfounded.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The Claimant did contend, among the other reasons for alleging wrongful dismissal, that she did not commit any act amounting to gross misconduct for which she was dismissed. That assertion, in my view, is tantamount to asking this court to investigate the facts leading to her dismissal. The Claimant has not given this court a cause to undertake that exercise. The Claimant has not alleged any breach of the condition of service in her dismissal. Once an employer has exercised the right to dismiss an employee, the only instance the court will interfere is when the dismissal was done in breach of agreement or the condition of service. The case of the Claimant is not on that course. Therefore, this court cannot proceed on inquiring whether or not the Claimant committed any misconduct warranting her dismissal.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">I find that the claimant has failed to prove her allegation that her dismissal was wrongful. She did not relate her dismissal to a breach of the terms of her contract of service and her allegation of lack of fair hearing was not substantiated. In the result, it is my view and I so hold that the Claimant’s dismissal was not wrongful.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">ISSUE TWO<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The Claimant sought the sum of <s>N</s>100,000,000.00 broken down into </span><s><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">N</span></s><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">68,792,765.71 special damages and <s>N</s>31,207,234.29 general damages. The sum is sought as </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">special and general damages for wrongful dismissal. The Claimant did not prove that she was wrongfully dismissed. Therefore, this claim will fail automatically. The long list of items constituting special damages has not also been substantiated. The Claimant is not entitled to his claim for special and general damages.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">To conclude this judgment, I find that the Claimant did not establish her claims. Her case fails completely and it is accordingly dismissed. No order as to cost.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Judgment is delivered accordingly.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><b><span style="font-size: 13pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Hon. Justice O. Y. Anuwe<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="NoSpacing1" style="text-align:justify;tab-stops:0in"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Judge<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";mso-bidi-language:HE"> </span></p>