The National Industrial Court in Abuja has ordered the Ekiti State Government to pay all unpaid entitlements owed to the former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Alhaji Dr Sikiru Tae Lawal, such as his monthly stipend, severance allowance, gratuity, and other benefits due to him under the state law, with the award of additional damages in the sum of N10 million in his favour.
It would be recalled that Alhaji Dr Sikiru Tae Lawal was the Deputy Governor to former Governor Segun Oni in October 2010, before the Court of Appeal nullified their election and installed Kayode Fayemi as governor.
Lawal said he never received his entitlements after leaving office because he was not impeached. He claimed Oni got his own benefits while he was left out.
Lawal, through his counsel, Adeboro Adamson (SAN), asked the court to declare the non-payment unlawful under the Ekiti State Pensions Law, 2012, as amended in 2014 and 2015.
He sued the Ekiti State Governor, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, and the state government.
In the court suit he filed at the National Industrial Court in Abuja, his demands included a declaration that withholding his pension, severance, monthly stipends, and arrears was illegal and unconstitutional; an order compelling the state to calculate and pay all arrears from October 15, 2010; and a request that he be paid the sum of N100 million as general damages.
During the proceedings at the Industrial Court, counsel Gbemiga Adaramola argued that Lawal was not entitled to benefits because the Court of Appeal in Ilorin had nullified the election that brought him to office on October 15, 2010. The government also denied paying Oni’s pension or discriminating against Lawal.
However, in the judgment delivered by Justice E.D. Subilim, he rejected the state’s objections and ruled that denying Lawal his entitlements was “unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional, and unjustifiable.”
The court ordered the Ekiti State Government to immediately compute and pay all outstanding benefits owed to Lawal, with arrears dating back to October 15, 2010.
Continuing, the National Industrial Court also held that all subsequent payments, as provided by law, be implemented, as well as the payment of 10% interest per annum on the judgment sum until it is fully settled.
