By Doyin Ojosipe
The National Industrial Court (NIC) in Abuja has ordered the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trade Plc (NBET) and its Managing Director, Dr. Marilyn Amobi, to pay a whistleblower, Sambo Abdullahi, all his salaries and other emoluments within 30 days of judgment or risk paying 21 percent interest of the over two years benefits, per annum, for failure to comply.
The presiding Judge, Justice Oyejoju Oyewunmi, also ruled that NBET, and its MD have no power to unilaterally discipline a staff of the AGM and above cadre and or withhold their salaries and other emoluments of such staff according to the NBET Human Resource Policy Manual, adding that only the Organisation’s board has such powers.
The court held that withholding of the whistle-blower’s salaries and other emoluments, refusal to grant leave and denial of access to health services under the National Health Insurance scheme (NHIS) for over two years were wrongful.
Recall that the embattled whistleblower, Sambo Abdullahi who is a staff of the organisation had approached the court in December 7, 2018, following continuous intimidation of him and another colleague, Waziri Bintube, and the refusal of NBET’s MD to pay his salaries after exposing the corrupt practices perpetuated by the the MD.
Abdullahi’s ordeal started when as head of NBET’s Internal Audit, he queried some illegal acts by Dr Amobi, alleging that transactions made by her on behalf of the organisation violated extant circulars, Financial Regulations and agreement duly executed by NBET.
He specifically queried, among others, the payment of 7.5million naira to one Engr. Achinaya, a monthly over-invoicing of N2billion naira to Olorunsogo and Omotosho Power plants and payment of 30 million naira to Azinge & Azinge and Aelex law firms.
Angered by the auditor’s queries, the NBET MD redeployed Abdullahi to another department, allegedly to make him redundant as the department has nothing to do with his expertise, while also ensuring his salaries were withheld since December 2017.
The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) and its media partners have been at the forefront of the campaign to get justice for the whistleblower. These organizations salute this victory at the court as it once again reaffirms the importance of whistleblower protection in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
