Total Exploration and Production Company and five other firms sued for alleged unlawful termination of appointments of 257 of their former workers will on October 17 open their defence at the National Industrial Court, Abuja.
Joined as co-respondents in the suit are: Eastbay Nigeria Limited, Gobin Security Limited, Fabom Ventures Nigeria Limited, Provast Limited and Luck Guards Limited.
The claimants sued the defendants for alleged unlawful termination of their appointments in August 2015 in one fell swoop and without notice.
The claimants, in their statement of claim, are seeking for an order of the court for the respondents to pay them N8 billion, being salaries and arrears that have accrued since 2015 till date.
They also prayed the court to prevail on the respondents to pay N5 billion for the unlawful termination of their appointments as well as general damages.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the case could not go on because of the absence in court of a witness to testify for the sixth respondent.
Emmanuel Omattah, the counsel to the sixth respondent, had told the court that the said witness was indisposed and sought for an adjournment.
The Judge, Justice Edith Agbakoba, after consent of parties, adjourned the case until October 17 for the respondents to open their case.
The claimants, represented by their counsel, Marx Ikongbeh, have since closed their case.
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