The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Kaduna-Nigeria has slammed the sum of N5,721,158.70k against the Kaduna State University(KASU) in favor of Dr. Zuwaqhu Bonat, a lecturer whose employment contract was arbitrarily terminated and devoid of the “ratification by the University Council” as the laws and statutes governing the 1st Defendant mandates.
Delivering the Judgment on Wednesday 27 April, 2022, Hon. Justice Sinmisola Adeniyi found the 1st-4th Defendants Kaduna State University, the Vice Chancellor, Registrar and Governing Council of Kaduna State University, breached the employment contract before the expiration of the fixed term.
The Court upheld the argument of M.B.Tanko Esq, Counsel for the Defendants, that a willing employee cannot be foisted on an unwilling employer but overruled on the superior arguments of Gloria Mabeiam Ballason Esq who led S.G.Yohanna Esq, S.I.Abdulaziz Esq and F. Gandu Esq that the termination of contract of a fixed term must be rooted in the sanctity of the laws that govern Employment Contract which the Defendants honoured in breach and not in compliance.
It will be recalled that on 31st May, 2018, Dr. Zuwaqhu Bonat’s contract of appointment was terminated by the Kaduna State University after police on orders from the Kaduna State Government House stormed the University to arrest Dr. Bonat for “anti-government” activities.
