In a recent ruling by the National Industrial Court (NIC) sitting in Port Harcourt, Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic has been directed to redress the unjust suspension of one of its lecturers, Zoe Tamunotonye.
The court’s decision mandates the institution to settle all outstanding salaries and entitlements owed to Tamunotonye since 2022.
Presiding Judge, Justice Zainab Bashir, emphasized the illegality of Tamunotonye’s suspension without pay, deeming it a violation of the lecturer’s rights.
The court also awarded N5 million in damages and imposed a cost of N500,000 against the polytechnic for its infringement of the employee’s rights.
Furthermore, Justice Bashir stipulated a 30-day deadline for the polytechnic to fulfil the monetary obligations. Failure to comply within this timeframe will result in a 20 percent post-judgment interest penalty.
Tamunotonye, who sought legal recourse to challenge his suspension amidst allegations of sexual harassment, expressed satisfaction with the court’s verdict. His legal counsel, Shuaib Mustapha, commended the judgement, highlighting its significance in deterring similar violations by other organisations.
Following the ruling, Tamunotonye shared his ordeal under the suspension, expressing relief at the vindication provided by the court’s decision.
