The National Industrial Court in Abuja has dismissed allegations of wrongful termination of employment brought by a former Deputy Manager of First Bank of Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Bitrus Garba.
The Court ordered Mr. Garba to pay First Bank the outstanding balance of N3,445,833.22 from loans he obtained while in service, within 30 days.
Delivering the verdict, Justice Sinmisola Adeniyi declared Mr. Garba’s claims against the bank as unmeritorious, stating that in a documented employment contract, the Court must adhere to the stipulated terms in determining the rights and obligations of the parties.
Background
Mr. Garba had argued that his termination by First Bank for services no longer required was unwarranted. He contended that the bank should have liquidated his outstanding loans through its insurers and alleged that his account was wrongfully debited after his dismissal.
The former Deputy Manager claimed entitlement to terminal benefits, asserting that the termination without reason violated international best practices and deprived him of his full retirement benefits, as he was due to retire in 2030 at the age of 60.
Court’s Decision
In her ruling, Justice Adeniyi held that by accepting one month’s salary in lieu of notice, Mr. Garba had effectively terminated his contract with the bank.
The Court affirmed that First Bank validly and mutually determined the contract in accordance with the prescribed terms and conditions of employment.
Furthermore, the Court stated that Mr. Garba failed to provide credible evidence to support his claim for a refund of N416,390, allegedly deducted from his account. The Judge emphasized that the bank’s insurance policy was not binding on Mr. Garba, as he was not a signatory to the policy.
The Court also dismissed Mr. Garba’s contention that the termination violated international best practices, stating that the bank had no obligation to provide a reason for terminating his appointment, as per the terms of his employment contract.