Justice Rabiu Gwandu of the National Industrial Court, Lagos Judicial Division, has held that the termination of Mrs. Rose’s employment by Union Bank of Nigeria was wrongful, finding that the Bank acted in violation of her contract of service and Article 7 of the ILO Termination of Employment Convention.
The Court noted that Union Bank failed to prove payment of salary in lieu of notice and acted in bad faith, particularly after Mrs. Rose had been cleared of allegations previously brought against her. While dismissing her redundancy claims, Justice Gwandu ordered the Bank to pay outstanding gratuity arrears of ₦14.4 million (less ₦5.9 million already paid), refund unlawful deductions of housing allowance and loan repayment, and settle one month’s salary in lieu of notice.
The judgment underscores the requirement for employers to comply not only with contractual obligations but also with international best practices in termination of employment.
