A retired Judge in Oyo State, Justice Caroline Olufawo, on Wednesday dragged the State Government before the National Industrial Court in Ibadan over her unpaid N51.8 million entitlement.
Others joined as respondents in the suit include the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Office of the Head of Service and Ministry of Establishment and Training.
The claimant’s counsel, Olaolu Shyllon, informed the court that Olufawo retired as a judge in the state in 2001 after serving for a period of 20 years.
Shyllon said that the Oyo State Government was yet to pay the claimant a dime of her pension since her retirement.
The respondents’ counsel, T. O. Dairo, Director Legal Litigation, Oyo State Ministry of Justice, called her witness to testify in the suit.
The witness, Babarinde Ayorinde, from Ministry of Establishment and Training, Oyo State, who was led in evidence by Dairo, tendered five exhibits before the court.
The witness urged the court to adopt his statement of oath as evidence before the court and dismiss the case of the claimant.
The witness, during his cross-examination by the claimant’s counsel, confirmed to the court that the claimant was appointed in the state on August 28, 1966 and she transferred her appointment to Lagos State on April 1, 1986 after serving Oyo State for 20 years.
He confirmed to the court that Oyo State has not paid the claimant any pension since her retirement from Lagos State in 2001, saying Oyo State ought to start her pension payment in 2001.
The witness said that the pension was to be 80 per cent of her last paid salary.
Justice John Peters adjourned the case until April 24 for adoption of final written addresses of both the claimant and respondents.
Peters, however, frowned at the way judges in Nigeria were treated.
He called on the bar to rise in defence of judges.
He said: “Nobody cares about what the Nigerian judges are going through after retirement.
“It is disheartening to see judges instituting suits before their pensions are paid by the government after serving the country meritoriously.
“The system is not working and we must rise up, otherwise everybody will be consumed by it.
“How much is the pension?”
