An Appeal Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State Capital has upheld the judgement of the Industrial Court which reinstated 15 out of the 32 sacked workers of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.
The workers were relieved of their job in January 2013, on what the management of the institution called reconstruction of the polytechnic.
But not satisfied with the decision of their school, the embattled workers comprising of 22 non-teaching and 10 teaching staff, approached industrial court to seek redress, through their lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana SAN.
The lower court, which was presided by Justice Anthonia Ubaka returned 15 of them on July 2014, on the ground that they were able to provide the court with necessary documents which showed they were senior staff of the polytechnic.
On the remaining 17, Ubaka said she could not return the remaining 17, because they were unable to convince the court about their status in the school.
However, the Polytechnic Authority, through their lawyer Dr. Olumide Ayeni approached the Appeal Court with four grounds.
It include, “not satisfactorily served the copy of the judgement of Industrial court within seven days, the failure of the Industrial Court to read the entire judgement, violation of its human right that gave the polytechnic the right on who to associate with and that the lower court granted the workers what they did not request for.
But, the Appeal Court Judge, J.S Abiriyi struck out the applications of the appellant.
The judge also said he was not expecting the case to be dragged to the Appeal since there was no violation of human right.
He admitted that the 15 workers were wronglyfully sacked, thereby ordering the management to pay the outstanding salaries and allowances of the reinstated workers.
The reinstated workers are – Abodunrin Moses, Adeoni Olusegun, Agbi Nelson, Arijeniwa Adedotun, Ayodeji Akinsanmi, Mrs. V.O Ayodele, S.B Bolaji, Ekundayo Gbenga and A.M Elegbede
Others are – Olubamiji Kumuyi, Ogunbode Benson, T.L Olemija, Olugbamila Omotayo, Omotola Alaba Olumayowa and S.O Oniyelu.
