Embattled ABU registrar withdraws case against university

Dr. Isa Abbas, the embattled Registrar of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has withdrawn his suit against the institution at the National Industrial Court in Kano.

The suit challenged Abbas’ removal from office.

This move followed an out-of-court settlement agreement reached by all parties in the suit.

Joined in the suit was a former Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Pro Chancellor/Chairman Governing Council and the Governing Council of the institution.

The withdrawal was contained in the terms of settlement filed at the court on Thursday by Mohammed Ibrahim, Counsel to the claimant.

It said all the parties at the 163 regular meeting of the ABU Governing Council held between September 9 and 11, had agreed that the matter should be settled amicably out of court.

In his ruling, Justice Lawal Mani commended all the parties for deciding to opt for out-of-court settlement and resolve the matter amicably.

Mani called on lawyers to always advice their clients to embrace such settlement rather than litigation.

According to the terms of the settlement, the defendants shall withdraw their letter with reference No P.18, 846 and dated January 30, 2013 removing the claimant as the registrar of the university.

It was also agreed that the defendants would reinstate the claimant as the registrar of the university to complete his term of office, which would expire in February 2016.

Furthermore, the defendants would pay the claimant all his outstanding entitlements, which include rights and privileges as the registrar of the institution from his period of removal to date.

The terms of the settlement agreement also stated that the claimant, upon completion of his term as the registrar of the university in February 2016, may return to the Department of Political Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, for continuation of his service.

Similarly, the claimant should withdraw his claims against the defendants in suit No.NICN/KD/01/2013 in consideration of the above terms and conditions.

The claimant would make no further claim in whatever form against the defendants in respect of this matter after his acceptance of the terms of settlement in this matter and that each of the party would bear the cost of filing and prosecuting the case.

NAN.