THE Presiding Judge of the Makurdi Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court, the Honourable Justice Isaac Essien, has ordered the Benue State Local Government Service Commission to pay a retiree, Mrs Helen Otokpa, the sum of N6,186,636.00 as gratuity.
Justice Essien held that Mrs Otokpa successfully proved her entitlement to the sum claimed, that the Benue State Local Government Service Commission, its Attorney general, and the State Local Government Pension Board have no valid defence.
Mrs Otokpa had submitted before the court that she retired from the service of the Benue State Basic Education Board after 35 years of service effective 2014, and that her retirement benefit was computed and had not been paid, as she urged the court to grant the reliefs sought in the interest of justice.
The defendants – Benue State Local Government Service Commission, State Attorney General, and State Local Government Pension Board – stated that they did not deliberately refuse to pay Mrs Otokpa her pension or gratuity but the delay in payment was due to the absence of funds appropriated for that purpose. They had urged the court to dismiss the case.
Justice Essien held that the defendants’ submission cannot constitute a valid defence to claims brought under the summary judgment, that it is an admission of indebtedness to Mrs Otokpa.
