Mr. Ejike Ogbuefi V. Registrar, Optometric and Dispensing Opticians
Registration Board of Nigeria & Anor (NICN/ABJ/120/2019)
WHETHER AN EMPLOYER’S ACT OF DEPRIVING EMPLOYEE ACCESS TOTREATMENT, SUBJECTION TO ENDLESS INTERDICT
Mr. Ejike Ogbuefi is an accountant with Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians
Registration Board of Nigeria, in Lagos. When the headquarters of the Board was
moved from Lagos to Abuja, he was transferred to Abuja. However, because of his
condition of health, he applied to remain in the Lagos office and work from there
for six months to enable him complete his treatment. His application was not
granted, but in order to continue to receive treatment, he remained in Lagos.
In response, the Board suspended him for 7 months and while on suspension his
salaries were not paid to him. The Board also interdicted him, placing him on half
salary for three months. At the end of the first three months, the Board still
placed him on half salary for another three months and for further three months,
making a period of 9 months. Worse still, he was transferred from the Audit
department to the Registration department of the Board.
To add salt to injury, the Board gave him 5 days to undergo a mental examination.
They threatened him that if he failed to comply, they would take serious action
against him. It was in the midst of all these that we filed a Complaint on behalf of
this employee at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja, praying the court
to restrain his employers from further violating his fundamental human rights and
directing same employers to pay his 7 months’ salaries and other entitlements.
The case, after several adjournments, has just gone into hearing.