The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, alongside four other senior officials of the Commission, are facing imminent committal following their failure to comply with a valid and final judgment of the National Industrial Court (NIC).
The affected officials include Deputy Executive Secretary, Mr Chris Maiyaki; Director of Finance, Mrs Hauwa Amos; Director of Human Resources, Mrs Victoria Omorodion; and Deputy Director of Legal Services, Mr Paschal Eruaga.
Judicial Form 48, a legal notice of contempt proceedings, has been issued and served on all five individuals, warning that they risk being committed to prison for their persistent disobedience of a subsisting court order.
The court had, in a judgment delivered on July 6, 2020, ordered the NUC to reinstate Mr. Kunle Rotimi, a former staff of the Commission, and pay all his outstanding entitlements including salaries, emoluments, bonuses, and other benefits accrued since his disengagement in March 1996.
Though the NUC challenged the decision at the Court of Appeal, the appellate court, in a ruling delivered on June 28, 2024, upheld the judgment of the lower court and directed the Commission to comply without further delay.
Despite the clarity of the judgment and the finality of the appellate decision, the NUC has reportedly failed to reinstate Mr Rotimi or settle his entitlements over the past 12 months.
In response, Mr Rotimi has filed contempt and committal proceedings against the five NUC officials, prompting the issuance of Form 48—a precursor to Form 49, which mandates their appearance in court to show why they should not be jailed for contempt.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, Mr Rotimi notified the Federal Ministry of Education of the development and urged the application of relevant provisions of the Public Service Rules (PSR), particularly Sections 030303, 030304, and 030411.
These sections provide for interdiction and suspension of public officers undergoing serious legal proceedings.
