Justice O.Y. Anuwe of Abuja division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to reinstate one of its employees and pay his salaries it withheld since March 2011.
Delivering judgement in a Complaint filed by Mr. Ebenezer Olufemi Ojo against the anti graft agency , the court held that the claimant(Mr. Ojo) is still under the employment of EFCC.
Consequently, held that the stoppage of monthly contribution to Mr Ojo’s Pension Administration by EFCC was unlawful.
Justice Anuwe said the Claimant had proved his claim that he should be allowed to continue with his work at the same grade level that his mates were employed with him at the same time are now.
The court held that EFCC failed to logically contradict claims made by Mr. Ojo.
“The defendant’s counsel dedicated substantial part of her arguments in the defendant’s written address to submit that the Claimant has failed to prove in this case that the statement of result he submitted was not forged. Perhaps,the defendant’s counsel has mistaken these proceedings for another criminal trial of the Claimant. This case is not a revisit or retrial of the criminal charge against the Claimant.
“The allegation has already been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. The defendant,instead of devoting time to defend the Claimant’s specific claims in this suit, is still busy dwelling in it’s allegation that the Claimant forged the statement of result,”the judge stressed.
Mr Ojo(the Claimant) was employed as a Cadet Officer on Grade level 8 in May 2006 by the EFCC.
Trouble started when sometimes in November 2008 EFCC alleged that it wrote a letter to the University of Ilorin where the Claimant said he graduated from to confirm the authenticity of the statement of result presented by the Claimant.
While Mr. Ojo claimed he graduated with a 2nd class lower division, University of Ilorin responded that the Claimant graduated with a 3rd class.
Mr. Ojo was thereafter arrested and arraigned before an FCT High Court in suit number CR/47/2011. He was discharged and acquitted of the charges preferred against him.
Commenting on the judgement,Mr. Soji Toki ,Esq., Commended the judge for his industry stressing the Justice has not only been done but has been seen to have been done by both parties.
