Tina Amanda
An Industrial Court sitting in Port Harcourt has declared the dismissal of Comrade Paulinus Aniedi, by his employer the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) as wrongful.
Justice B.B Kanyip in his judgement ruled that PHED did not give a fair hearing to the Claimant Paulinus Aniedi before terminating his appointment, following reports of the panel committee set up to investigate the matter that led to his sack.
The court held that it was wrong for Defendant (PHED) to have dismissed the Claimant, Paulinus Aniedi, for the purpose of carrying out his duties, boundary meter reading which was duly signed and approved by the management of the company.
Justice Kanyip ordered Defendant to pay the Claimant his two years’ salaries in view of his termination while noting that the reinstatement of employment which the Claimant also seek is not to be determined as Defendant has the right to terminate the appointment.
In an interview with our correspondent, Awajibenem Jacob, Counsel to the Claimant expressed gratitude that the court has exonerated his client from the allegations against him, adding they will have to study the judgement and decide the next line of action.
“By the grace of God my Lord has given its considered judgement top among which is the fact the employment that was purportedly terminated by PHED of our client Paulinus Aniedi was declared wrongful and at such we are glad that justice has taken it cause. The allegations and averment made by PHED as to the status of the Claimant have been seen as illegal.
“We would study the other content of my Lord judgement and in due course we will know the next line of action to take
On his part, Counsel representing PHED, Oscar Ugumba, said the court was fair to all parties in its judgement.
“The court delivered its judgement eruditely everyone got what they deserve, the court just awarded the Claimant just payment of his two years salaries and other reliefs were not granted. The court gave its decisions on its own merit and I think it’s acceptable”.
Recall that the Claimant Paulinus Aniedi had approached the Court on 28 July 2021, praying the court to declare that the Defendant is in breach of the contract of employment/job description entered between the Defendant and claimant on 1st November 2013.
A relief that the purported termination of employment of the Claimant by Defendant is unlawful and mere victimization of the Claimant.
An order directing Defendant to pay the Claimant the sum of one million six hundred and eight thousand twenty-three naira, twenty-four Kobo representing the unpaid leave allowance from 2014 to 2020.
Also, an order directing the Defendant to withdraw its purported termination of employment and reinstate the Claimant with full payment of all accrued salaries and allowance from May 2020 to date.
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