Man drags NLNG to court over termination of employment


Tina Amanda

A National Industrial Court sitting in Port Harcourt has adjourned to 16 June, 2022, on the suit filed by Tambari Michael, against Nigeria LNG Limited, AUGJ Services Nigeria Limited and Mrs Abimbola Ibikunle, over defamation and unlawful disengagement from employment.

The Claimant who is a logistic support personnel on shutdown activities with AUGJ Services Nigeria Limited, a contractor company with NLNG Bonny Island, was said to have been unlawfully sacked on 29 May, 2018, on a false allegation without proper investigation, by the 3rd Defendant Abimbola Ibikunle, a senior staff of NLNG and logistic supervisor on shutdown activities.

During the Court proceeding, the Claimant’s Counsel was absent due to the breakdown of his on his way to the court.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Nelson Ogbuanya, thereby adjourned the case to 16 June 2022, for cross examination of Mrs Abimbola Ibikunle 3rd defendant in the matter.

It would be recalled that Tambari Michael, after several consultations and dialogue done by his employer AUGJ with the 3rd Defendant to reinstate him proved abortive, decided to seek legal redress, urging the court to declare Claimant’s termination illegal, and an unlawful 3rd party interference.

Reliefs sought include damages to be awarded to the claimant against the 1st defendant (Nigeria LNG limited) and the 3rd defendant (Mrs Abimbola Ibikunle) for defamatory publication made.

He also sought damages also to be awarded against 1st and 3rd defendants for unlawful interference in his employment with AUGJ services, the 2nd defendant, and for the court to determine whether his termination was in line with section 4 code of conduct of the Nigeria LNG Limited.