The Abuja Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria has admitted a total of 345 exhibits in a suit by 114 members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities challenging their alleged unlawful sack by Kogi State University, Anyigba.
The exhibits were tendered by human rights activist and constitutional lawyer, Femi Falana and admitted by Justice Rakiya Haastrup, to determine the legality or otherwise of the alleged unjust layoff of the lecturers.
The proceeding was witnessed by the North Central Zonal leaders of ASUU, led by its Vice-President and former chairman at the University of Jos, Dr Chris Piwuna.
Falana had filed the case at the National Industrial Court in Abuja on behalf of the lecturers comprising about six Professors against KSU and the Attorney General of Kogi State as 1st and 2nd defendants respectfully, praying for the reversal of the purported sack of his clients.
Kogi State University (KSU) had by a letter of August 14, 2017, with reference No. KSU/R/EST/EMP/SS/Vol 1, terminated the appointment of the 114 lecturers on grounds of reorganisation of the institution.
However, in the suit, Falana amongst others asked the NICN to declare the termination of his clients’ appointments as illegal, null and void on the ground that it violated the extant provisions of Chapter 6 paragraph 6.4.6 of the Kogi State University conditions and schemes of service for senior staff dated November 2008.
He prayed for an order of the court to set aside the purported appointment termination and for payment of all salary arrears and allowances of the lecturers.
Falana whose brief was held by Femi Adedeji informed the court that the 345 exhibits formed the fulcrum of the case of the 114 lecturers against their unlawful sack by the Kogi State University.
