“Court Of Appeal Orders CBN To Reinstate Three Staff” — Workers Win N1m Damages Over 2015 Wrongful Termination

The appellants, who were dismissed under the guise of “service no longer required,” had challenged their termination at the National Industrial Court (NIC) in 2015. However, the NIC ruled in favor of the CBN, prompting the aggrieved staff to appeal the decision.

The appellants were involved in a sensitive operation known as “Notes Briquetting,” which involved the shredding and disposal of old, mutilated, and broken currency notes. During an exercise between April 22 and 26, 2013, an incident involving the alleged unauthorized removal of a currency box containing N10 million occurred.

The CBN terminated their employment in February 2015, citing “service no longer required” as the reason. Dissatisfied with the decision, the appellants, represented by the law firm of Falana and Falana, filed a suit at the NIC seeking reinstatement, payment of accrued salaries, benefits, and N10 million in general damages.

The NIC, presided over by Justice B.A. Adejumo (retired), ruled in favor of the CBN on October 17, 2018. The appellants then appealed the decision to the Court of Appeal.

In a judgment delivered on January 13, 2025, by Justice Ishaq Mohammed Sani, the appellate court set aside the NIC’s ruling and declared the termination of the appellants’ employment as illegal. The court held that the CBN failed to follow the proper procedures outlined in the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 and the bank’s Human Resources Policies and Procedures Manual (HRPPM).

Justice Sani stated, “The termination of the appellants’ employment on the ground that ‘services are no longer required’ is inconsistent with the HRPPM and the Central Bank of Nigeria Act. The appellants’ employment enjoys statutory protection, and their termination must comply with the law.”

The court ordered the immediate reinstatement of the appellants and directed the CBN to pay all accrued salaries, benefits, and allowances from the date of their wrongful termination. Additionally, the court awarded N1 million in costs against the CBN.

The appellants’ counsel, Femi Adedeji, hailed the judgment as a victory for justice and the rule of law. “This judgment reaffirms the principle that no employer, no matter how powerful, is above the law. The court has sent a clear message that statutory employment must be handled with utmost care and in compliance with the law,” Adedeji said.

The CBN has yet to issue an official statement regarding the judgment.