Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) management is facing a lawsuit from over 500 disengaged workers. The workers allege unlawful termination of their services.
The claimants, through their counsel Sola Ojutalayo, are seeking an order from the National Industrial Court in Ibadan for their reinstatement and payment of all entitlements.
According to the workersβ statement of claims, they were employed between October and December 2022. However, they were allegedly disengaged without reason on January 31, 2024.At a recent hearing, four exhibits were admitted as evidence. However, the hospital managementβs counsel, Ejike Orji, objected to two of them, citing lack of signatures.
Ojutalayo argued that the signatures were present on subsequent pages of the exhibits. He stated that if Orji had checked other pages, he would have discovered the signatures. Justice John Peters ultimately ruled that the exhibits were admissible. He stated that the exhibits contained the claimantsβ employment dates and salaries, which were signed by all claimants.
The claimants testified that they were not appointed on probation and were unaware of any waiver granted by the head of service. They also stated that the hospital management did not provide any reason for their termination. One of the claimants, Samson Ogunleye, testified that he never received a salary since his employment until the disengagement date.
The hospital managementβs counsel, Ejike Orji, began cross-examining the witness. The case has been adjourned until February 11 for the hearing to continue.The claimants include Samson Awosope, Olufemi Falope, Omowumi Fayemi, and 509 others. They are seeking justice and reinstatement to their former positions. The outcome of the case is eagerly awaited, as it may set a precedent for similar cases in the future.
Source: https://gazettengr.com
