The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in Owerri, has awarded ₦50 million in general damages to a former banker, Mr. Collins Godspower, over what the court described as wrongful blacklisting by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), occasioned by the “career‑damaging and malicious actions” of his former employer.
Delivering judgment, Justice Nelson Ogbuanya set aside the employment ban placed on the claimant and held that the bank acted improperly in forwarding his name and biodata to the CBN as an ex‑employee allegedly disengaged for fraud and dishonest practices.
The court ruled that the action, which resulted in Godspower’s blacklisting under Section 44(4) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA), amounted to unfair labour practice and workplace defamation.
Justice Ogbuanya emphasized that workplace defamation is distinct from general defamation, as it arises specifically within the employment context and directly affects labour relations.
Godspower’s employment had been terminated on the ground of “services no longer required” after he was initially suspended and later recalled in connection with allegations of unauthorised foreign exchange transactions.
He later discovered that his inability to secure new employment in the banking sector was due to his former employer publishing his name and photograph on its portal and forwarding his details to the CBN as one dismissed for fraud.
In its defence, the bank admitted publishing the claimant’s details and notifying the CBN, but argued that it acted in compliance with BOFIA and a regulatory circular issued by the apex bank. It also challenged the jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court to entertain the matter.
Justice Ogbuanya dismissed the objection, affirming that the NICN has jurisdiction over employment‑related disputes, including workplace defamation and unfair labour practices.
On the merits, the court held that recalling the claimant from suspension amounted to exoneration by operation of law, and faulted the bank for terminating his employment on one ground while portraying him to regulators as having been dismissed for fraud.
The judge awarded ₦50,000,000 in damages against the defendant, describing the wrongful publications as acts that “tarnished the claimant’s cherished career and rendered him jobless and traumatised.”
As consequential relief, the court set aside the publications and restrained the defendant from further giving effect to the career‑damaging reports against the claimant.
