Ex-JAMB director’s dismissal based on due procedure, witness tells Industrial court 

The denial was made on Monday by Dr. Abdulwahab Oyedokun, Director of Legal Services at JAMB Headquarters, who appeared as the board’s defence witness before Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae.

Oyedokun stressed that Usman was dismissed in line with due procedures enshrined in JAMB’s Staff Manual and the Public Service Rules.

Usman had filed a N150 million lawsuit against JAMB, marked NICN/ABJ/266/2023, alleging that the composition of the Board’s Directorate Staff Disciplinary Committee, which dismissed him, was unlawful.

He urged the court to hold that “the claimant’s purported dismissal by the defendant (JAMB) without consideration of the Committee’s report by the defendant’s board is unlawful, illegal, null, and void.” 

He further alleged that the committee mainly comprised the board’s registrar and other directors who were beneficiaries of the alleged infractions in JAMB that he had exposed.

The claimant sought an order reinstating him “to his position with full entitlements, benefits, and perks due to him by virtue of his position”, as well as an order granting him all the salaries, allowances, and perks that would have been due to him but for the purported dismissal.

“The documents are admitted in evidence subject to the claimant’s right to raise any issue in the written address,” she ruled.

The documents identified in open court included:   

The report of the JAMB Directorate Disciplinary Committee forwarded to the Minister of Education.

A copy of the six-count charge filed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria against Usman at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Under cross-examination, the claimant’s lawyer, Mohammed Shuaibu, asked NAIJAONPOINT whether he was aware that Chapter 9 of the JAMB Staff Manual states that the Disciplinary Committee, which probes deputy directors, must comprise all JAMB directors.

NAIJAONPOINT insisted that, contrary to the claimant’s assertion that only directors could determine his fate, “the management of JAMB has the power to constitute a disciplinary committee.”  

NAIJAONPOINT told the court that Usman’s dismissal for infractions in public service was not done in bad faith or “unlawfully.” 

“I put it to you that the composition of the Disciplinary Committee was wrong as it was not in accordance with laid-down procedure,” Shuaibu asked NAIJAONPOINT .

“The committee’s composition is in order,” NAIJAONPOINT responded.

“The committee’s composition is in order,” NAIJAONPOINT responded.

“Are you aware that under the Public Service Rules, the power to dismiss or discipline public servants lies with the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC)?” Shuaibu asked.

“That applies to those in core ministries. Those in parastatals are governed by their respective Acts,” NAIJAONPOINT responded.

“I put it to you that the ministry that sanctioned the claimant and approved his dismissal had no power to do so,” Shuaibu said.

“That is not correct, my Lord,” Oyedokun responded.

After NAIJAONPOINT ’s testimony, Owonikoko announced the closure of JAMB’s defence.

Justice Obaseki-Osaghae subsequently adjourned the matter until May 28, 2025, for the adoption of final written addresses by the parties.

Naijaonpoint reports that after the written addresses have been adopted, the court will adjourn for judgment.