Appeal court orders CBN to pay ₦2.5bn to 110 sacked ABU workers
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to release ₦2.5 billion to 110 former staff of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, who were unlawfully dismissed from service nearly three decades ago.
The ruling, delivered on Friday, dismissed appeals filed by the CBN and ABU challenging earlier judgments that awarded the workers their salaries and entitlements. A three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Okon Abang, with Justices Adebukola Banjoko and Eberechi Wike, upheld the decision of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).
In the lead judgment, Justice Abang held that the appeals lacked merit and affirmed that the former workers were entitled to enforce the judgment through garnishee proceedings against funds belonging to ABU but held by the CBN. The court also rejected arguments that the consent of the Attorney-General of the Federation was required before the money could be released.
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The dispute dates back to 1996, when the 110 workers were disengaged by ABU. After prolonged litigation, the NICN on November 30, 2015, ruled that their dismissal was unlawful and ordered the payment of outstanding salaries, allowances and other benefits. ABU’s failure to comply with the judgment led the workers to initiate garnishee proceedings, which identified funds standing to the university’s credit with the CBN.
The Court of Appeal further warned that continued refusal to comply with the judgment could attract sanctions, and awarded ₦5 million in legal costs against the CBN and ABU in favour of the affected workers.
Lawyers representing the former employees described the ruling as a long-awaited victory, saying it brings closure to a legal battle that has lasted almost 30 years and offers relief to families that had endured prolonged hardship.
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