The Port-Harcourt, River State division of the National Industrial Court (NICN), has ordered Guinness Nigeria Plc and three others to pay an aggrieved former employee of the company, Bright Nwosu, the sum of N52, 456,000 million, for wrongful termination of employment.
Bright Nwosu, who was employed by Guinness Nigeria Plc in 2004 as a Sales Executive, filed the suit against the firm on September 18, 2019, after he was wrongfully disengaged.
Delivering judgment in the suit marked NICN/PHC/108/2019, Justice Nelson Ogbuanya, held that Guinness Nigeria Plc, erred when it terminated the employment of Nwosu without justification, adding that the evidence before the court proved that the sacked employee was diligent in his duties before the termination of his employment.
The court however declared as unacceptable the stipulation of Guinness employees’ handbook, that employees can be sacked without expressly stating the reason behind the sacking.
The Judge consequently ordered Guinness to pay Nwosu N19 million and N886,000 (Eight Hundred and Eighty-Six Thousand Naira for his terminal benefit and gratuity, having worked for 15 years before his sacking.
The judge also ordered Guinness to pay applicant’s two months unpaid salaries in lieu of notice, amounting to N570,000 (Five Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira).
Justice Ogbuanya also ordered Guinness to pay the sum of N30 million and another N2 million, to Nwosu as damages for the unfair labour practices he suffered and as cost of litigation.
The judge clarified that all sums of money awarded in favour of the claimant must be paid within two months from the date of judgment, saying any delay would attract 10 per cent interest per annum until fully liquidated
