CLOSE TO TWO YEARS, NVRI, YET TO OBEY COURT OF APPEAL’S JUDGMENT ON, MR. REUBEN AWANYE ITRUMA---INVESTIGATION

By: Amb. Valentine Adese (JP),

Despite the unanimous Judgment of the Court of Appeal, Jos Division by Tani Yusuf Hassan (PJCA), Ibrahim Ali Andenyangtso (JCA) and Lasumbo Olarenwaju Goodluck (JCA), affirming the Judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) Jos Judicial Division, that the purported stoppage of Mr. Reuben Awanye Itruma’s (Claimant) salary from October 2007 till date and his subsequent purported dismissal from service of the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Vom, pursuant to the Public Service Rules and all the steps leading up to his dismissal are unlawful, null, void and of no effect whatsoever, on 8^th August 2022, the Institute is yet to obey.

The Governing Board of the NVRI, which is the 2^nd Defendant in Suit No: NICN/JOS/47/2013, filed by Mr. Reuben and also the 2^nd Appellant at the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/J/276/2013, has also failed to give effect to the Court of Appeal’s Judgment dated 8^th August 2022.  

You would recall that the Appeal of NVRI against the Judgment of NICN, Jos Division, was dismissed for been unmeritorious.

On the face of the Judgment of NICN, delivered by Hon. Justice R. H. Gwandu, the Court had in part also declared that:

1.   The Claimant’s employment is governed by the “Condition For Service For, Research Institute, Colleges of Agriculture and Allied Institutions of Federal Republic of Nigeria” of 1^st January 2004 and not the Public Service Rules.

2.    The dismissal of the Claimant from the service of the Respondents is inconsistent and in contravention of the Provisions of the Public Service Rules and Guidelines for Appointment, Promotion, and Discipline issued by the Federal Civil Service and therefore, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

3.      TO BE CONTINUED…