Abuja Court of Appeal affirms long-running ruling, dismisses appeals by ABU and CBN, orders payment to affected workers
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has upheld a ₦2.5 billion judgment against Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, over the unlawful termination of 110 members of staff, bringing an end to a prolonged legal dispute that has lasted for decades.
In its decision, the appellate court affirmed an earlier ruling of the National Industrial Court which declared the sack of the affected workers unlawful and ordered the university to pay their outstanding salaries, allowances, and other entitlements. The workers were disengaged in the mid-1990s, a move the court held violated established employment procedures.
The court also dismissed appeals filed by ABU and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) seeking to halt the enforcement of the judgment. It ruled that the former staff were legally entitled to pursue garnishee proceedings to recover the judgment sum from funds belonging to the university.
The Court of Appeal further ordered compliance with the judgment and awarded costs against the appellants, stressing that continued delay in settling the matter was unacceptable. The ruling reinforces the authority of Abuja courts in upholding workers’ rights and holding public institutions accountable for unlawful labour practices.
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