National Industrial Court adjourns suit filled by staff of Bao Yao Huan Jian Iron & Steel Group demanding compensation

The National Industrial Court sitting in Calabar in Suit No. NICN/CA/55/2021, adjourned Tuesday to May 29, 2024 the suit filed by Ayim Abi Ogeh, Freedom Udoh Davies, Ibor Emmanuel, Iniobong Okon Ndon and Samuel Agbor Ngu on behalf of the One Hundred and Forty Six Members of Staff of Bao Yao Huan Jian Iron & Steel Group CFTZ demanding payoff from the company.

Fielding questions from newsmen after the Court sitting on Tuesday April 23 in Calabar, counsel to claimants, Barr. (Pastor) Abo Esor Ekpe claimed that the defendants refused, neglected or/and failed to pay his clients their payoff despite several written and oral appeals thus warranting engagement of Trinitas Consult Firm of Legal Consultants to write the Defendant through her General Manager seeking payment of N607,281,799.00 (Six Hundred and Seven Million, Two Hundred and Eighty One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety Naira) being the claimants payoff, the sum of N100, 000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) against the Defendant as general damages and N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) as cost of litigation in the suit.

But Counsel to the defendant, Barr. Efiom Ekong (SAN) and company countered the claimants plea on the grounds that the defendants had the right to hire and fire in line with her Employment Manual & Conditions of Service 2007.

Pastor (Barr.) Abo Esor Ekpe, Counsel to the claimants averred that having exhausted all means of amicably settling the matter, they had no other option than to constitute the case with the belief that the Court presided over by Hon. Justice Sanusi has the powers and the Jurisdiction to deliver judgment and make orders in their favor.

By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)