Court orders counsel to address it in Maina’s case

The President, National Industrial Court, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, has ordered all counsel in Abdulrasheed Maina’s case to address the court on whether a case of dismissal could commence through originating summons.
Adejumo gave the order on Tuesday when the case of unlawful dismissal filed by Maina against the Head of Service of the Federation and six others came up for hearing.
The president explained that inasmuch as the court was the custodian of law, the lawyers owed it a duty to help it to arrive at justice.
He also said that the matter before the court had generated a lot of public interest and would want to apply caution in determining the suit.
He stated that the court does not only consider the interest of the parties in a suit before it, but also the interest of the public.
Adejumo said: “The Industrial Court does not only consider the interest of the parties in a suit, but also the public and that is why this court is not for technicalities but justice.
“I hereby order that counsel should file their written addresses within three working days from today to address the court on whether this court can entertain a case of dismissal via originating summons.
“This case is hereby adjourned to the date that shall be communicated to the parties after they might have filed their written addresses.”
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Maina had sued the HOSF and six others for alleged unlawful dismissal as a deputy director in the civil service.
Maina, who instituted the action through his counsel, Mahmud Magaji, via originating summon, is praying the court to quash the purported dismissal from service.
He is also praying the court to order the defendants to reinstate him as Chairman, Customs, Immigration and Prison Pension Office and Deputy Director (Admin), Federal Civil Service.
The claimant is also seeking an order of the court to direct the defendants to pay him N2.5 billion in damages.
NAN reports that at the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Maina was not present in court and pensioners thronged the court room in large numbers to witness the hearing.
Maina was the Chairman, CIPPO and Pension Reform Task Team before his dismissal.