Court nullifies sack of Tribune staff

The National Industrial Court in Ibadan, on Monday nullified the sack of Mr Kareem Popoola, a staff of African Newspaper of Nigeria PLC, Publisher of Nigerian Tribune titles, by the company.

Reports state that Popoola, a former President of staff cooperative society of the company, was sacked in 2016, but he filed a suit to challenge his sack.

Justice John Peter declared the sack of Popoola as null and avoid, describing it as an abuse of power by the management of the company.

Peters said the company could not give any reason for dismissing the plaintiff as he was not queried for any gross misconduct on duties, before sacking him as claimed by the company.

The judge said that the only query given to the plaintiff was the one issued in 2013 on his activities in the staff cooperative society.

Peter said the query was not enough to sack the plaintiff, adding that the cooperative society was not under the control of Tribune management.

According to the judge, even if there was any foul play in the cooperative society, the plaintiff should be queried by the members or Ministry of Trades and Investment.

He stressed that membership of the cooperative was voluntary.

The judge ordered the company to pay the plaintiff N2 million as entitlements with 10 per cent interest.

He also ordered the company to pay the plaintiff N400, 000 which was his basic salary for two years as damages.