The Lagos Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria has ordered Niger Insurance to pay Charity Ojakovo ₦17.1 million, representing the outstanding terminal benefits of her late husband, Christopher Ojakovo.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Anthonia Ubaka, followed a suit filed by the widow seeking the balance of benefits that the company had acknowledged but failed to fully settle. The court held that the order was necessary to ensure justice after the company failed to pay the full entitlement it had earlier confirmed as due.
Justice Ubaka delivered the ruling in Lagos after reviewing the evidence and documents before the court, directing Niger Insurance to pay the outstanding balance within 30 days or face additional interest. The court also awarded costs of ₦500,000 against the company.
According to the judge, the decision was intended to ensure that the deceased employee’s family was not deprived of its rightful entitlement after years of partial payments and unsuccessful demands for the outstanding balance.
Mrs. Ojakovo told the court that her husband, who worked for Niger Insurance, died in June 2015. She stated that the company wrote to her in October 2015, informing her that his total terminal benefits amounted to ₦46.1 million.
She explained that after signing service withdrawal documents alongside her children, the company paid only ₦29 million in instalments between 2016 and 2022, leaving an outstanding balance of ₦17.1 million. She said repeated requests for payment were ignored, causing her financial hardship and emotional distress.
However, Niger Insurance neither entered an appearance nor filed a defence, despite being duly served with court processes and hearing notices.
Delivering judgment, Justice Ubaka held that the company had not disputed that the benefits were due and had, in fact, partially settled the obligation. The court ruled that the letter issued by Niger Insurance confirming the ₦46.1 million entitlement constituted an admission of debt.
The judge further held that, having paid only part of the amount, the company was legally bound to pay the outstanding ₦17.1 million to Mrs. Ojakovo.
The court ordered that all sums be paid within 30 days, failing which the judgment debt would attract interest at the rate of 10 per cent per annum.
