By Toheeb Ajadi
A Human Rights organization, The Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR) Osun state branch has called on the management of the Federal Polytechnic of Ede to comply with the court’s judgment and reinstate 25 sacked workers without delay.
It would recalled that the court judgment which was delivered on the 23rd of November 2023 by Hon. Justice Opeloye Ogunbowale of the National Industrial Court in Ibadan Judicial Division, in suit No. NICN/OS/04/2018 nullified the termination of the 25 workers, ordering the immediate reinstatement of the workers to their employment with the Defendant, along with the payment of all entitlements from January 2018 to date.
The human rights group, in a letter submitted to the Rector of Federal Polytechnic of Ede dated Tuesday, through its state chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Olowu and made available to the medium on Wednesday, Osogbo, state capital.
Olowu gave the Council of the Federal Polytechnic of Ede 14 days ultimatum to comply with the judgment, noting that failure to comply with a court order carries severe legal consequences.
According to the letter, “This letter serves as a formal notification of letting you know that failure to comply with the Judgment connotes disobedience to court order which is contempt of court. The Council of the Federal Polytechnic of Ede is legally obligated to comply with the court’s judgment and reinstate the claimants without delay. Any further refusal to adhere to the court’s decision will be met with appropriate legal action.
“The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights is committed to ensuring that the claimants receive justice in this matter and we will not hesitate to pursue all available legal avenues to ensure that the rights of the claimants are been enforced in line with the judgment in the suit NICN/OS/04/2018.
“Sequel to the mandate of our organization to campaign for the full implementation of human rights, we write you on behalf of the following persons 1. MR. CORNELIUS A. NWOKORO 2. MR. THOMAS D. ABOROWA 3. MR. LAWAL AKANNI AMUSA 4. MR. OKUNOLA ADEAGBO 5. MR. OSENI WAIDI 6 MR. DAVID ADEBAYO AKINLABI 7. MR. MOSES K. IKUSIKA MR. SHEHU T. GARBA 9. MR. PHILIP O. SHIYANBOLA 10. MR. SAIBU A. RAJI 11. MR. ISIAKA OLASUPO 12. MR. ISIAKA A. JOLAOYE 13. MR. MUIDEEN R. OPADISI 14. MR. SEDU OLADAPO 15. MR. SIKIRU KAREEM 16. MR. MARTINS O. ОКАН 17. MR. EZEKIEL O. KUYE 18. MR. BAKARE T. OLAGUNJU 19. MR. ILEH E. AGBO 20. MR. RASAQA. AMOO 21. MR. FESTUS O. OLANREWAJU 22. MR. AYODELE O. ONI 23. MR. FATAI A. ADEEYO 24. MR. JOHN AGBO 25. MR. FOLORUNSO HAMMED 26. MR. ADEWOLE ADESINA 27. MR. OLAPADE DAVID ABODUNRIN 28. MR. TIMOTHY AJIBOLA OYEBODE (hereafter referred to as “the claimants”) against the Council of Federal Polytechnic of Ede (hereafter referred to as “the Defendant”) in a matter of suit No. NICN/OS/04/2018.
“As you are aware, a judgment was delivered on the 23rd of November 2023 by His Lordship Hon.Justice Opeloye Ogunbowale of the National Industrial Court in Ibadan Judicial Division, in suit No. NICN/OS/04/2018.
“The court found in suit No. NICN/OS/04/2018 that the claimant’s employment with the Defendant was unlawfully terminated, in violation of various statutes including the ACT establishing the Defendant, the Defendant’s employee manual, the ILO Convention 158 and recommendation 166, and section 42(1) of the constitution.
“The court declared the termination null and void, ordering the immediate reinstatement of the claimants to their employment with the Defendant, along with the payment of all entitlements from January 2018 to date. It is imperative to note that failure to comply with a court order carries severe legal consequences,” the letter added.
