The National Industrial Court in Lagos, Thursday heard that two
ex-workers of Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN) Plc, Patrick Nduka
Uzuakpundu and Babatunde Scott, were not issued queries before they
were disengaged by the firm.
DTN Group General Manager, Innocent Nwankwo, stated this
Thursday during cross examination by Uzuakpundu and Scott’s
counsel, Samuel Ogueri.
Uzuakpundu and Scott, both journalists, have asked the court to
compel DTN to pay them accumulated salary arrears of N910, 000
each.
They are also seeking an order compelling the firm to pay them
N40, 000 each as one month salary in lieu of notice of
disengagement.
At the commencement of proceedings yesterday, Nwankwo said he
became the firm’s Group General Manager in 2017.
But when Ogueri confronted him with a copy of a December 4, 2017
edition of the paper, the Nwankwo said: “My name falls in there as
the technical adviser to the publisher.”
Nwankwo also stated that the claimants were not issued a query
by DTN.
Following further cross examination, the witness read out two
letters of employment and two letters of disengagement, allegedly
issued by DTN to the claimants.
Both disengagement letters referred to Uzuakpundu and Scott as
Copy Editors.
Justice Mustapha Tijani adjourned till April 19, for adoption of
final written addresses.
In their August 10 statement of claim, Uzuakpundu and Scott
averred that they worked for the defendant from November 17, 2014
until they were disengaged on August 11 and 12, 2016,
respectively.
The letters of disengagement, they claimed, were dated August 4,
2016.
They said DTN, by letters of October 13, 2014, appointed each
claimant as Copy Editors with a monthly remuneration of N120,000
each following which they resumed duty on November 17, 2014.
The National Industrial Court in Lagos, Thursday heard that two
ex-workers of Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN) Plc, Patrick Nduka
Uzuakpundu and Babatunde Scott, were not issued queries before they
were disengaged by the firm.
DTN Group General Manager, Innocent Nwankwo, stated this
Thursday during cross examination by Uzuakpundu and Scott’s
counsel, Samuel Ogueri.
Uzuakpundu and Scott, both journalists, have asked the court to
compel DTN to pay them accumulated salary arrears of N910, 000
each.
They are also seeking an order compelling the firm to pay them
N40, 000 each as one month salary in lieu of notice of
disengagement.
At the commencement of proceedings yesterday, Nwankwo said he
became the firm’s Group General Manager in 2017.
But when Ogueri confronted him with a copy of a December 4, 2017
edition of the paper, the Nwankwo said: “My name falls in there as
the technical adviser to the publisher.”
Nwankwo also stated that the claimants were not issued a query
by DTN.
Following further cross examination, the witness read out two
letters of employment and two letters of disengagement, allegedly
issued by DTN to the claimants.
Both disengagement letters referred to Uzuakpundu and Scott as
Copy Editors.
Justice Mustapha Tijani adjourned till April 19, for adoption of
final written addresses.
In their August 10 statement of claim, Uzuakpundu and Scott
averred that they worked for the defendant from November 17, 2014
until they were disengaged on August 11 and 12, 2016,
respectively.
The letters of disengagement, they claimed, were dated August 4,
2016.
They said DTN, by letters of October 13, 2014, appointed each
claimant as Copy Editors with a monthly remuneration of N120,000
each following which they resumed duty on November 17, 2014.
Read more https://www.nairalaw.com/ex-daily-times-workers-not-queried-before-sack/