Unpaid salaries: Industrial court to hear suit by former employee of Newswatch Dec. 1

The National Industrial Court in Lagos has fixed December 1 to hear a suit by a former employee of Newswatch Times Ltd against the company over unpaid salary.
The claimant, Francis Iwuchukwu, has dragged Newswatch Times Ltd (former Newswatch Newspapers Ltd) before the court over unpaid seven months salaries.
Iwuchukwu’s suit, numbered NICN/LA/200/2016, is now slated for hearing on December 1
The hearing date was fixed after the claimant counsel had regularised his processes before the court.
In his Statement of Fact, filed by his counsel, Yemi Omodele, Iwuchukwu averred that he was employed by the defendant by way of a letter of appointment dated October 1, 2012.
He averred that Newswatch did not issue a letter of confirmation of his appointment after he qualified for same in spite of constant demand for it.
He said that he was only told at the registry of Newswatch that “you have been employed; carry on with your work”.
Iwuchukwu averred that upon noticing the indifference of the company to workers’ welfare, especially the non-payment of outstanding salaries, he tendered a letter of resignation on May 28, 2015.
He lamented that, in spite of his constant visits and demand for his outstanding salaries, the defendant refused and neglected to pay same.
This refusal prompted the claimant counsel, Yemi Omodele to write a letter, dated August 17, 2015, to the defendant demanding for the payment of all outstanding salaries of the claimant.
According to the plaintiff, the defendant claimed that it deducted some money and remitted it to Leadway Pensure Ltd, a claim, which the plaintiff averred as false.
The plaintiff averred that he visited the office of the Leadway Pensure Ltd and requested for a copy of his Retirement Savings Account statement, but was shocked to realise that the defendant did not pay a kobo to the said account.
Iwuchukwu averred that the defendant’s action was fraudulent and constituted clear intention to defraud the claimant, adding that he had suffered great loss due to nonpayment of seven months salaries due to him.
The claimant is consequently praying the National Industrial Court for a declaration that the he is entitled to be paid salaries for the months of October, November, December 2014, as well as January, February, March and April 2015.
He also sought a declaration that the non-payment of the salaries by Newswatch amounted to breach of trust and willful intention to defraud him.
Iwuchukwu consequently sought an order of court directing the defendant, its servants, agents and/or privies to pay forthwith the sum of N700, 000.00 to him, being salaries for the months in arrears.
He further sought an order directing the defendant to pay 21 per cent interest on the sum until judgment is delivered and executed.
The defendants are yet to enter a defence.