Both the Imo State Governor, Rochas Anayo Okorocha, his party APC and supporters are not in good mood, following the recent judgement of the National Industrial Court sitting in Owerri on case NICW/OW/18/2013 which not only that it did not favour the governor and three other defendants but also gave the governor 30 days ultimatum
After years of legal fireworks between the counsel representing the dissolved leadership of Imo State Independent Electoral Commissioner (ISIEC) and those of governor Okorocha, Attorney General of Imo State, ISIEC and Imo State House of Assembly (IMHA) who are 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants respectively from the State High Court to the National Industrial Court. Yesterday, Wednesday 1st July 2015 witnessed the conclusion of the case with a judgement by the Industrial Court.
Delivering her judgement, Hon Justice Olufunke Y. Anowe faulted the governor’s action to be unconstitutional and illegal, submitting that the claimants were constitutionally and legally appointed by the Government they served under, having gone through and passed the mandatory and necessary procedures with due processes associated to such appointment, including the mandatory screening by the state House of Assembly.
Having declared the sack illegal, the National Industrial Court ordered the immediate computation and payment of the salaries, allowances and other entitlements due to the affected persons between June 2012 and February 2015.
The Justice Anowe judgement also stated that, the governor and the three other defendants have an ultimatum of thirty days to implement the judgement of the honourable Court, on the contrary, the total benefit of each claimants will attract an additional 10% penalty from the defendants.
It will be recalled that the case was initially filed in the High Court by Paul Ogujiofor, Kelvin Agbaegbu, Louis Onwunali and Philip Onyelanka Onyenwoke before it was later transferred to the National Industrial Court in 2012.
