Lecturer to receive N40m compensation for wrong dismissal

A former Professor and lecturer in the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), in Ekiti state, Niyi Akingbe, is set to receive a compensation of N40 million over wrongful dismissal.

This order was given by the National Industrial Court in Akure.

Professor Akingbe, the former Acting Dean of the Faculty of Arts, of the institution was abruptly dismissed from his job in 2018 over plagiarism allegations.

According to reports, the Professor before his sack was a vocal critic of the university’s leadership under former Vice Chancellor Kayode Soremekun, who dismissed him.

However, the court in a fresh development after about six years of litigation declared Professor Akingbe innocent of the plagiarism allegation levied against him.

The decision according to the Presiding Judge, Honourable Justice K.D Damulak is because the allegations of plagiarism were vague and lacked substantial evidence.

The court also held that the university failed to adhere to proper procedures outlined in the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti Act of 2015 and the relevant regulations governing senior staff service conditions.

The judgement partly reads, “A declaration that the claimant’s dismissal vide letter dated 31st October 2018 without fair hearing is null and void. The defendant is hereby ordered to pay the claimant general damages assessed at N40,000,000(Forty million Naira only) within Thirty days of this judgement or the sum shall attract 10% interest per annum. This is the judgement of the court and it is hereby entered.”