The National Industrial Court in Port Harcourt has ruled in favor of Zoe Solomon Tamunotonye, a lecturer at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, ordering the institution to pay all his outstanding salaries and entitlements accrued since 2022. The court's decision comes after it deemed the lecturer's suspension on allegations of sexual harassment without proper investigation unconstitutional and a violation of his rights.
Justice Zainab Bashir delivered the judgment, awarding Tamunotonye a compensation of N5 million for damages and an additional N500,000 for legal costs. The court also specified that failure by the polytechnic to fulfill the payment within 30 days would result in a 20% interest rate accruing on the post-judgment amount.
The case highlighted significant issues within organizational conduct and employee rights, as Tamunotonye was suspended without the findings of the investigative panel being disclosed. Shuaib Mustapha, the counsel representing Tamunotonye, shared his satisfaction with the judgment outside the courtroom, stating that the verdict serves as a strong deterrent against the mistreatment of employees.
Mustapha emphasized the impact of the court's decision, noting that it upheld eight out of ten reliefs sought by Tamunotonye, reaffirming the lecturer's rights to his salaries and lawful entitlements. He expressed relief and happiness for his client, who he noted had endured considerable hardship due to the polytechnic's actions.
For his part, Tamunotonye expressed profound gratitude for the ruling, which he views as a vindication and a restoration of his dignity and financial stability. He remarked on the broader implications of the judgment, suggesting it as a testament to justice and fairness in the governance of human affairs.
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