By Amos Aar
THE Makurdi Division of the National Industrial Court presided over by the Honourable Justice I. J. Essien on Wednesday adjourned a suit filed by four staff of Government House, Makurdi against the Benue State Government, Governor Samuel Ortom and the state Ministry of Justice over their alleged illegal dismissal to May 3, 2023.
The suit, No NKN/MKD/59/2017, in which the Benue State Government, Governor Samuel Ortom and the Benue State Ministry of Justice, are standing as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively, was filed by four sacked civil servants serving at Government House, Makurdi, challenging what they alleged was the unlawful termination of their appointments in 2017 by the Benue State Government under Governor Ortom over alleged theft of a plasma television set and two generator batteries from Government House, Makurdi.
The plaintiffs, Agbo Lucky, Yaasa Simon Igbalagh, Godwin Gbande and Terver Gbakaan, filed the suit on August 30, 2017.
National Record had reported on February 9, 2023 the court’s foreclosure on February 8, 2023 against the defendants following their failure to defend the suit after several opportunities availed them by the court.
The matter was adjourned till April 12, 2023 for parties to present their final addresses.
But when the matter was called on April 12, 2023, counsel to the plaintiffs and the defendants, D. D. Aboshi, Esq. and Mike Assoh, Esq. respectively, did not appear in court.
Following the absence of the defence counsel, Honourable Justice Esien again adjourned the suit till May 3, 2023 for the presentation of final addresses.
