By Niyi Jacobs
In a significant legal victory, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) has ruled in favor of Bamgboje Olasunkanmi, a former staff of Keystone Bank Limited, ordering the bank to pay a total sum of N20.5 million in damages for unjustly terminating his employment.
The court presided over by Justice Simisola Oluyinka Adeniyi, declared that the dismissal of Olasunkanmi on August 3, 2016, was wrongful, unconstitutional, and illegal. The judge set aside the letter of dismissal and ordered Keystone Bank to unfreeze Olasunkanmi’s salary account and pay him the sum in the account.
Additionally, the court awarded N20 million in general damages and N500,000 in legal costs to Olasunkanmi. The bank was also ordered to pay 10% interest on the judgment sum from the date of the judgment until final liquidation.
This landmark ruling is a significant win for Olasunkanmi, who had challenged his unlawful dismissal without due process by the bank. The court’s decision serves as a reminder to employers to adhere to fair labor practices and respect the rights of their employees.
