Court fines CBN ₦620,000 for delaying hearing in suit filed by ex-staff

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to pay ₦620,000 for causing delays in the hearing of a case filed by 62 former employees challenging their termination.

Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae issued the order on Thursday after counsel to the ex-staff, Ola Olanipekun (SAN), complained that the bank filed a fresh motion late, forcing an adjournment on a day fixed for hearing.

The affected workers, whose disengagement letters dated May 23, 2024, were issued under the label “Re-Organisation,” insist that their sack breached the CBN Act 2007 and internal HR regulations. They are asking the court to void their termination, reinstate them, and compel payment of outstanding salaries and benefits.

Olanipekun told the court that the CBN only served them a new motion on the morning of November 26 seeking to convert the case from an originating summons to a writ of summons, claiming factual disputes. He asked for ₦10,000 per claimant as costs, totalling ₦620,000.

CBN’s lawyer, Wilson Inam (SAN), apologised for the late filing, but the court held that the bank’s action hindered proceedings. “Cost follows event,” the judge ruled, directing that the amount be paid before the next sitting.

The case has been adjourned to January 12, 2026, for hearing of all pending applications.

This development follows the December 2024 decision of NICN President, Justice Benedict Kanyip, to withdraw from handling the 62 suits due to a conflict of interest involving a CBN counsel, Damian Dodo (SAN). The cases were subsequently reassigned to another judge.