The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has described as null and void the 2021 termination of the appointment of an assistant lecturer in the Department of Public Law, Mr Bamisaye Olutola, by the University of Lagos.
Olutola sued the university, challenging the termination of his appointment because it violated Section 18 of the University of Lagos Act, which requires the university Senate to investigate allegations against any staff member.
In suit no. NICN/LA/441/2021 between Mr Bamisaye Olutola as claimant and the University of Lagos as defendant, Olutola contended that his employment remained valid due to the termination.
In the judgment delivered on July 17, 2025, Justice Ikechi Nweneka of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Lagos Judicial Division, declared that the claimant’s appointment as Lecturer II still subsists.
The judge also declared that the claimant’s appointment “is deemed confirmed”, ruled that “the defendant cannot suspend the claimant indefinitely without due process” and ordered that “the claimant is reinstated to his position and employment without loss of seniority, promotion and emoluments.”
Also declared by the court were: that the defendant shall pay the claimant his full salary and allowances from August 2021 until the date of the judgment and shall continue to pay his salary thereafter; that “an order of perpetual injunction is made restraining the defendant either by itself, its agents, privies, servants or any person howsoever described from unlawfully tampering with the claimant’s employment; that the defendant shall pay the claimant N750,000 cost of this action; and that the judgment shall be implemented within 30 days from today, failing which, the monetary awards, as detailed in paragraphs (e) and (g) above, shall accrue interest at 10 per cent per annum from 15th August 2025 until the judgment sum is fully liquidated.”
The claimant commenced the suit on 19th November 2021, seeking 10 reliefs, including a declaration that his appointment as Lecturer II had not been determined and remained subsisting; a declaration that, having worked for over four years, his employment is deemed confirmed.
