Court hears dismissed Lance Cpl Rafiu’s suit against Army Nov.11
NAN-H-45
Army
By Doris Esa
Abuja, Oct.19, 2016 (NAN) The National Industrial Court, Abuja, will hear Lance Cpl. Zuberu Rafiu’s case against the Nigeria Army on Nov.11.
Rafiu is challenging his purported dismissal by the Nigeria Army on May 13, 2014 for allegedly being Away Without Leave, known as AWOL.
The claimant prayed the court to reinstate him and tender a public apology for his alleged detention without trial and subsequent dismissal.
The claimant also prayed the court to compel the Army to defreeze his salary account.
At the resumed hearing for adoption of addresses, the trial could not proceed because respondent’ s counsel, Mr Shehu Mohammed, had written a letter seeking for an adjournment on health ground.
The Counsel to the claimant, Mr Gift Ejekela, opposed the application, saying that respondent’s counsel should have assigned another counsel to hold brief for him.
The judge, Justice Peter Lifu, held that fair hearing demands that the suit be adjourned to enable counsel adopt their written addresses.
“Mr Ejekela, let us give respondent counsel one more chance, let him come and adopt his address. In the interest of fair hearing this suit is adjourned to Nov.11 for adoption of counsel written addresses,” Lifu said. (NAN)
ORD/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha