The National Industrial Court in Abuja has declared the termination of the appointment of Prof. Ngozi Ijeoma as Vice Chancellor of Citiedge University wrongful and unfair, ordering the institution and its founder to pay her a total of ₦41 million in unpaid salaries and refunded funds.
Delivering judgment at the Abuja Judicial Division, Hon. Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae ordered Citiedge University to pay Prof. Ijeoma ₦17 million in salary arrears covering the period from 1 August 2021 to 19 December 2022. The court also directed the university’s founder and proprietor, Chief Onwuka, to refund ₦24 million advanced to him by the professor.
In addition, the court awarded ₦750,000 as the cost of the suit and ordered that all payments be made within 30 days.
According to court documents, Prof. Ijeoma told the court that she had been duly appointed as Vice Chancellor of Citiedge University and had served in that capacity in accordance with the terms of her employment.
She stated that despite discharging her responsibilities, the university failed to pay her salaries for several months and also neglected to refund funds she had advanced to the institution and its proprietor.
Prof. Ijeoma further informed the court that repeated demands for the payment of her outstanding salaries and the reimbursement of the funds were ignored by the defendants.
In their defence, Citiedge University and the other defendants argued that no valid employment contract existed between the parties, alleging that Prof. Ijeoma had not formally accepted the appointment in writing.
The university also maintained that she neither resumed duty nor performed any work for the institution. It further contended that the issue relating to the loan transaction was already the subject of a separate suit before the Federal Capital Territory High Court and, therefore, fell outside the jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court.
Counsel to the university also argued that Citiedge University was not Prof. Ijeoma’s employer, maintaining that her substantive employer remained Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, where she served as a lecturer. The defence further claimed that it was unlawful for her to assume the office of Vice Chancellor while still holding a public appointment.
However, counsel to Prof. Ijeoma, Victor Edem Esq., argued that the evidence before the court clearly established the existence of an employment relationship between the parties and urged the court to grant the reliefs sought in the interest of justice.
In his judgment, Hon. Justice Obaseki-Osaghae affirmed the jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court to entertain matters arising from Prof. Ijeoma’s employment and the associated claims.
The judge held that the defendants had made an offer of appointment, which the claimant accepted, thereby creating a valid contract of employment between the parties.
The court further found that Prof. Ijeoma had complied with due process by obtaining a leave of absence without pay from Nnamdi Azikiwe University before assuming office at Citiedge University. According to the judge, the leave was duly granted in line with public service practice, meaning she did not breach any public service regulations.
Hon. Justice Obaseki-Osaghae consequently ruled that Prof. Ijeoma had successfully established her claims for unpaid salaries and monies advanced. The court therefore entered judgment in her favour, ordering the payment of the outstanding salaries, the refund of the funds advanced, the cost of the action, and post-judgment interest in the event of non-compliance with the court’s orders within the stipulated period.
