The National Industrial Court, Ibadan Division, has nullified the sacking of a lecturer in the Department of Classics, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Dr Oladoyin Odebowale, by the institution’s council.
Odebowale, a lawyer, who is currently the Senior Special Assistant on Strategy and Special Duties to Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, was sacked by the university in 2016 for allegedly claiming that plagiarism was rampant in the UI.
But displeased with the sacking, Odebowale, through his lawyer, Mr Femi Aborisade, sued the university, contending that his sacking was not procedural.
Odebowale, alias High Priest, contended that he was not given a fair hearing by the university’s Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee, which entertained the complaints against him.
He contended that contrary to the provisions of the university’s Staff Handbook: Rules and Regulations Governing Conditions of Service of Senior Staff August 2003, the SSDC did not disclose to him the identities of the persons who lodged the complaints resulting in the query issued to him.
He described as “perverse” the recommendation of the SSDC, which the university council acted upon to serve him a dismissal letter dated September 7, 2016.
The court, in a November 18, 2021 judgment by Justice J. D. Peters, entered judgment in Odebowale’s favour against the university.
The judge held, “I declare that the dismissal of the claimant by the defendants did not follow the laid down statutory provisions in Exhibit C3. I set aside all the steps taken by the defendants leading to the dismissal of the claimant.
“I set aside the second defendant’s letter dated 7/9/16. I hereby make an order reinstating the claimant to his position as Lecturer 1, without any loss of earnings, salaries, allowances, perquisites of office, seniority, privileges, pensionable rights and right to promotion, without any break in service, as if the claimant was never dismissed.”
