Unpaid Salaries: Journalist drags Newswatch to court
Jimoh Ibrahim, Publisher of Newswatch Times Limited
(Nigeria) A former staff of Newswatch, Mr Iwuchukwu Iheanacho, has dragged Newswatch Times Limited (formerly known as Newswatch Newspapers Limited) before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, over the failure of the media outfit, owned by Jimoh Ibrahim, to pay his seven months’ salary.
(Nigeria) A former staff of Newswatch, Mr Iwuchukwu Iheanacho, has dragged Newswatch Times Limited (formerly known as Newswatch Newspapers Limited) before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, over the failure of the media outfit, owned by Jimoh Ibrahim, to pay his seven months’ salary.
The former Newswatch staff in suit NICN/LA/200/2016 filed by
his lawyer, A. O. Omodele, is contending that he was employed through a letter
of appointment dated October 1, 2012, by the defendant.
The claimant added that "The defendant trickily did not
issue letter of confirmation of appointment to the claimant after being
qualified for same despite constant demands for it. All he was told at the
registry of the defendant is you have been employed, carry on with your work.
"That upon noticing the lackadaisical attitude of the
management of the defendant particularly none payment of outstanding salaries
and other issues connected thereto, the claimant, in line with employment law
tendered its letter of resignation dated 28/05/2015.
"That despite the constant visit and demand for the
outstanding salaries of the claimant from the defendant, the latter refused
and/or neglected to pay same which prompted the claimant counsel, Yemi Omodele to write a letter dated 17/08/2015 to the defendant
demanding for the payment of all outstanding salaries of the claimant.
"That the defendant claimed that it deducted some money
and remit it to Lead way Pensure Limited, which it did not do. The claimant
visited the office of the Leadway Pensure Limited wherein retirement savings
account statement was printed and given to him showing that the defendant did
not pay a kobo to the said company.
"That the defendant's action is fraudulent and
intention to dupe the claimant herein.
"That the claimant suffered a lot of loss due to none
payment of his outstanding salaries by the defendant."
The former Newswatch staff is consequently asking the
National Industrial Court of Nigeria, to issue, "A declaration that the
claimant is entitled to be paid salaries for the months of October, November,
December 2014; January, February, March and April 2015 by the defendant.
"A declaration that the none payment of the October,
November, December 2014; January, February, March and April 2015 salaries by
the defendant to the claimant amounts to breach of trust and intention to dupe
the claimant.
"An order of this honourable court directing the
defendant, its servants, agents and/or privies to pay forthwith the sum of
N700, 000 only to the claimant being salaries for the months of October,
November, December 2014; January, February, March and April, 2015 owed the
defendant.
"An order of this honourable court directing the
defendant, its servants, agents and/or privies to pay 21 percent interest on
the sum of N700, 000 only to the
claimant from May 1, 2015, till judgment is delivered and executed."
No date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.
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