By Our Reporter, With Agency Reports
AN ASSISTANT Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs Asher Uwem, has dragged the apex bank before the National Industrial Court in Abuja, challenging the termination of her appointment and seeking an order for her reinstatement.
Uwem, a former Head of the Facility Management Division of the CBN, is also seeking financial compensation for what she described as the wrongful, unlawful and unconstitutional termination of her employment.
The suit, marked NICN/ABJ/275/2026, was filed on her behalf by her counsel, Reuben Atabo, SAN. She is asking the court for 10 reliefs, alongside three alternative prayers.
In her claims, Uwem is seeking a declaration that the letter dated May 14, 2026, purporting to terminate her appointment as an Assistant Director, was issued without any justifiable reason and in violation of the CBN’s Human Resources Policies and Procedures Manual.
She is also asking the court to declare that her disengagement contravened the CBN Act 2007, as well as applicable labour regulations, and was therefore wrongful, unlawful, unfair, unconstitutional, null and void.
The claimant wants the court to set aside both the termination letter dated May 14, 2026, and the suspension letter dated June 20, 2025, describing the two documents as wrongful, unlawful, unfair, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect.
She is further seeking an order directing the CBN to pay all her salaries and allowances from the date of termination until judgement is delivered and thereafter until she reaches her retirement age.
As an alternative to reinstatement and payment of her entitlements, Uwem is asking the court to award her “₦5 billion in exemplary or aggravated damages”, alleging that the circumstances surrounding her disengagement caused her humiliation, embarrassment and psychological trauma.
She is also seeking N500 million in general damages and an order directing the CBN to pay the costs of the litigation.
21 Years of Service
In her statement of claim, Uwem said she joined the CBN as a Senior Supervisor on February 9, 2004, on a commencing salary of CBSS 09 Step 01 per annum.
She said her appointment was confirmed on May 3, 2004, following what she described as satisfactory performance.
According to her, her diligent performance subsequently earned her a series of promotions. She was promoted from Senior Supervisor to Assistant Manager with effect from January 1, 2007, and later from Assistant Manager to Manager with effect from October 1, 2011.
She said that between February 1, 2015, and January 1, 2023, she progressed through the ranks of Senior Manager and Principal Manager before attaining the position of Assistant Director.
Uwem said she was serving as Head of the Facility Management Division at the CBN’s PSSD when the events leading to her suspension and eventual termination occurred.
Challenge to Suspension
According to the claimant, she was issued a suspension letter on June 20, 2025, over allegations of unethical practices which she described as false.
She contended that the suspension letter was signed by an Acting Director in the Human Resources Management Department, rather than the Deputy Governor in charge of Corporate Services, as allegedly required by Paragraph 18.7.7(g) of the CBN’s Human Resources Policies and Procedures Manual.
Uwem also relied on a 2024 decision of the Supreme Court in Sgt. Bala Akawu v. Nigerian Army, reported in 2024 15 NWLR (Pt. 1962) 447, in support of her contention.
She said that on June 27, 2025, she was invited to appear before an Inter-Departmental Investigation Panel as a witness in relation to the allegations against her.
She was subsequently issued a query dated July 22, 2025, over alleged unethical practices and breach of trust.
Uwem said she denied the allegations, describing them as “spurious, baseless, unfounded and false.”
Denial of Procurement Allegations
The claimant specifically denied allegations that she had engaged a contractor, Mr Gabriel Ademumi, aka ‘Mr Qualify’, to conduct assessments and bid for projects at the CBN branches in Maiduguri, Abuja or elsewhere.
She argued that, under her responsibilities as Head of the Facility Management Division, she did not have the authority to engage contractors for project assessments or bids. She also denied having a preferred vendor or directing the Service Coordinator of the Abuja branch to receive and process job proposals without first giving the existing total facility managers the right of first refusal.
She explained that the total facility managers had been appointed by the CBN before her deployment to the department and that they were awarded jobs annually, subject to satisfactory performance and records. She therefore argued that Ademumi could not have been selected in preference to an existing total facility manager.
The claimant further denied directing, authorising or permitting the submission or resubmission of 10 project proposals from the Abuja branch that allegedly resulted in significantly inflated amounts and an increase of N251 million, representing 67 per cent.
Uwem maintained that no resubmission of project proposals was carried out with her knowledge or consent and that she lacked the authority to approve or influence the outcome of any project proposal. She also denied directing or permitting a vendor to submit three quotations, or any number of quotations, for projects at the Abuja or Maiduguri branches.
According to her, the submission of quotations was the responsibility of the service coordinator. She equally denied receiving $500, or any amount whatsoever, as a gift from Ms Saidu Sadiya, the Managing Director of Aurum Facility Management Company Limited.
Alleged Breach of Fair Hearing
Uwem further argued that the CBN breached her right to fair hearing by issuing her a query more than a month after her suspension. She described the procedure as “absurd and unreasonable,” arguing that she had been suspended before being given an opportunity to respond to the allegations against her.
She maintained that the allegations were false and that the manner in which the disciplinary process was conducted violated the applicable rules and principles of fair hearing.
Claim of Financial Hardship
The former CBN Assistant Director told the court that despite serving the apex bank for more than 21 years “meritoriously, conscientiously and diligently,” her employment was terminated on May 14, 2026. She alleged that the termination was carried out in gross violation of the CBN’s employment guidelines, applicable labour regulations and the bank’s Human Resources Policies and Procedures Manual.
Uwem said she depended heavily on her salary from the CBN to meet her personal and family obligations. According to her, the unexpected termination of her employment had left her unable to pay her children’s school fees and provide for their basic needs.
She also told the court that the termination had caused her considerable emotional and psychological distress, particularly because it followed more than two decades of what she described as dedicated service to the apex bank.
She is consequently asking the National Industrial Court to grant her reliefs and orders sought in the suit.
