Mr. Aminu Oluwole Rasheed v Ajaji Continental Limited

• Judge: Hon. Justice J. D. Peters
• Judgment Date: 06 May 2020
• Respondent: Ajaji Continental Limited
• Appellant: Mr. Aminu Oluwole Rasheed
• Docket Number: NICN/LA/327/2014
• Court: National Industrial Court (Nigeria)

Introduction & Claims
1. Mr. Aminu Oluwole Rasheed the Claimant approached this Court by his Form 1 on 5/8/14 and sought the following reliefs against the Defendant -

a. The sum of Three Hundred Thousand (=N=300,000.00) being the total sum of the Claimant's salary from the month of January, 2014 to May and inclusive of one month's salary in lieu of notice of the termination of his employment.
b. The sum total of 40% interest on the sum in claim (a) above from May of 2014 till the date of Judgment of this Honourable Court and 20% interest rate thereafter till the execution of Judgment.
c. The sum of Fifty Thousand Naira (=N=50,000.00) as cost of action.

2. Claimant's Form 1 was accompanied by statement of facts, witness statement on oath, list of witnesses, verifying affidavit and list as well as copies of documents to be relied upon at trial. Notwithstanding that the Defendant was served as required, it did not file any defence process. Defendant was however represented in Court on 20/4/15.

Case of the Claimant
3. Claimant opened his case on 10/2/15. He testified in chief, adopted his witness deposition of 5/8/14 as his evidence in chief and tendered 4 documents as exhibits. The documents were admitted in evidence and marked as Exh. C1-Exh. C4 respectively.

4. The case of the Claimant is that after a series of successful interview with the Defendant he was offered employment by the Defendant via a letter dated 3/1/14; that by the terms contained in the letter he was to be paid =N=50,000.00 monthly; that on resumption of office he was issued an identity card setting out his position with the Defendant including a letter describing his job and position; that he undertook his new employment with all diligence and sense of responsibility until 26/5/14 when he was invited for a meeting by the Executive Director and was informed that his services were no longer required by the Company and that his employment was terminated with immediate effect; that from 3/1/14 when he resumed duties till 26/5/14 when his employment was terminated, he was not paid his monthly salary of =N=50,000.00; that when demanded for his outstanding salaries he was told he would be paid when the Defendant's Chairman returned from his foreign trip; that when the Chairman returned, the Chairman informed him that the sum of =N=50,000.00 would be given to him to cover the entire period of 5 months that he had worked for the Defendant; that he refused the said sum of =N=50,000.00; that he was entitled to a total sum of 5 months salaries and a minimum of one month salary in lieu of notice of termination which brings his total entitlement to =N=300,000.00; that the...