The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja, has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to reinstate Mr. Ebenezer Olufemi Ojo, one of its employees and pay his salaries it withheld since March 2011.
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Justice O.Y. Anuwe gave the order on Friday, while delivering judgement in a complaint filed by Ojo against the Commission.
The court held that the claimant, Mr. Ojo is still under EFCC employment and therefore should be accorded every rights and privileges accruing to him as a staff of the agency.
In addition, the court also held that the stoppage of monthly contribution to Mr Ojo’s pension administration by EFCC was unlawful, adding also that the claimant had proved his claim that he should be allowed to continue with his work at the same grade level that his mates were employed with him at the same time are now.
“The defendant’s counsel, in his address, submitted that the claimant has failed to prove in this case that the statement of result he submitted was not forged.
“Perhaps, the defendant’s counsel has mistaken these proceedings for another criminal trial of the claimant.
“This case is not a revisit or retrial of the criminal charge against the claimant. The allegation has already been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
“The defendant, instead of devoting time to defend the claimant’s specific claims in this suit, is still busy dwelling in it’s allegation that the claimant forged the statement of result” the judge stressed.
Mr Ojo was employed as a Cadet Officer on Grade level 8 on May 2006 by the EFCC.
Trouble started when sometime in November 2008, EFCC alleged that it wrote a letter to the University of Ilorin where the claimant said he graduated from to confirm the authenticity of the statement of result presented by the claimant.
While Mr. Ojo claimed he graduated with a 2nd class lower division, University of Ilorin responded that the claimant graduated with a 3rd class.
Ojo was thereafter arrested and arraigned before an FCT High Court in suit number CR/47/2011.
He was discharged and acquitted of the charges preferred against him.
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