The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) sitting in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday again ordered the sacked Registrar of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, (FUOYE), Mr. Olatunbosun Odusanya and his co-traveller, esthwhile Bursar, Mrs. Bolatito Roseline Akande to take their time and properly present their case challenging the legality of their dismissal from the University before approaching the court.
Odusanya and Akande were last year, dismissed from the University as Registrar and Bursar after incontrovertible evidences established against them were obtained from a thorough investigation which indicted them of committing gross misconduct against the University Regulations, was conducted.
Not satisfied, the duo approached the NICN in Abuja to challenge the legality of their sack. They filed an interlocutory injunction restraining FUOYE Management and Council from appointing new and substantive Registrar and Bursar but the Counsel to the defendants, Ebun Olu Onagoruwa (SAN) filed a counter affidavit which led to the quashing of the exparte Order retraining FUOYE from making new appointments of Registrar and Bursar and also restrained the Claimants from obtaining further Exparte order to stop the appointments.
It will be recalled that the claimants were slammed with a N500,000 penalty for improperly filing their counter affidavit and wasting the Court’s precious time. The were again given another chance to put their house in order and refile a faulty application in response to the Defendant’s defense during the last sitting of the Court on March 30, when they begged the court for leniency following their failure to pay the penalty fee. Odusanya’s counsel had pleaded with the Court that the claimants were broke and could not make the payment.
The Jugde thereafter adjourned the case to Wednesday, May 25, 2022 to enable the claimants file a better counter affidavit. But it appeared the claimants were confused in Court on Wednesday as they again failed to properly present their case.
After being properly guided by the presiding Jugde, the legal counsel who held brief for the claimants, Benita Odigie urged the Court to allow them to regularize the process leading to the withdrawal of the faulty application and creating the legal space to refile a proper application.
The presiding judge, Justice E. N. N Agakoba thereafter adjourned the next hearing of the case to July 19, 2022. She also insisted that the Claimants must urgently put their house in order and present a proper application in the next outing.
