Justice Benedict Kanyip of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja, on Tuesday withdrew from presiding over a series of lawsuits filed by 62 former employees of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), following a conflict of interest. The employees were recently disengaged from the bank’s service.
Justice Kanyip, who also serves as the President of the NICN, recused himself after disclosing that a member of the legal team representing the CBN, Mr. Damian Dodo, SAN, was his in-law.
The lawsuits, filed by the former staff against the CBN, are centered around the termination of their employment. The claimants, represented by a legal team led by Ola Olanipekun, SAN, are challenging the validity of their termination letters. They argue that the letters, issued on May 23, 2024, and effective from May 24, 2024, violated the CBN Act 2007 and the bank’s Human Resource Policies and Procedure Manual (HRPPM).
In their suit, the claimants seek several declarations, including that the termination letters be declared null and void. They also request the court to reinstate them to their former positions or to higher positions they would have attained if their employment had not been unlawfully terminated. Additionally, they are demanding payment for lost wages, allowances, and other entitlements.
The court had scheduled hearings for 31 of the 62 cases on Tuesday, with the remaining cases to be heard on Wednesday. A motion to consolidate the cases had also been filed by the claimants’ counsel.
During the proceedings, Olanipekun announced his appearance, and Obafemi Agaba of Jackson, Etti, and Edu & Co, representing the CBN, confirmed that a consortium of law firms, including D.D. Dodo, SAN & Co, would handle the bank’s defense.
Upon hearing the disclosure of the relationship between Justice Kanyip and Mr. Dodo, the judge expressed discomfort continuing with the case. He subsequently ordered that the matter, along with the other 61 cases, be reassigned to a different judge for adjudication.
Both the claimant’s counsel and the CBN’s legal representative expressed confidence in the judicial process. Olanipekun assured the court of their trust in its impartiality, while Agaba emphasized the importance of ensuring that justice is not only done but is also seen to be done.
Justice Kanyip’s ruling marks the beginning of a reassignment process for these significant cases involving the CBN’s recent staff disengagements.
