The National Industrial Court sitting in Yenagoa Bayelsa state has declared as illegal the termination of appointment of Corps Marshal, Ebipade Dede, by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in February 2015 for alleged extortion from motorists in Rivers State.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Bashar A. Alkali, in his ruling on the suit filed against the FRSC, declared that the respodent erred in law by not following due process in terminating his appointment.
Alkali, before granting the applicant prayers on re-instatement with all benefits and entitlements, noted that he was given fair hearing as he was served with disciplinary notice but failed to appear before the panel.
The court therefore declared that although the complainant was given opportunity of fair hearing but his employment was not validly terminated since it failed to comply with the FRSC regulations, and ruled that “his employment is subsisting.”
In his reaction to the judgment, Corps Marshal Ebipade Dede said it came as a relief.
Corps Marshal Dede told newsmen after the court ruling that it was a tortuous moment while the trial lasted since 2015 from the Industrial Court in Port Harcourt before it was established in Yenagoa, following which the matter was started afresh.
Counsel to the complainant, Barr. Felix Suku described the judgment as “justice served” and advised anyone perceived of suffering injustice to always approach the courts.
