The National Industrial Court on Tuesday ordered the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to “immediately’’ restore the payment of salaries and other entitlements of an officer, CSI Mars Abiaziam.
Justice Peter Lifu gave the order at the resumed hearing of a suit filed by Abiaziam against NIS over the non-payment of his salaries, victimisation and attempt by the service to sack him.
The judge also ordered the service not to subject the officer to any punitive action or any form of victimisation as a result of the suit.
The order of the court followed an out of court settlement agreement reached between the claimant and NIS and other respondents to the suit.
“The court is satisfied with the contents of the terms of settlement by the parties and will enter such as final judgment in the case,’’ Lifu held.
It will be recalled that Abiaziam had dragged NIS before the court over non-payment of his salaries, victimisation and attempt by the service to sack him.
In the suit, he joined the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Assistant-Comptroller of Immigration, Mr. S. C Baikie and a Chief Inspector of Immigration, Tanko Nuhu as co-defendants.
The claimant said that the respondents stopped paying his monthly salaries since November 2014 on an allegation that he did not comply with demands of harmonisation of service record.
He said he had complied with the said harmonisation and filled the relevant forms for over four times, adding that he had severally appealed for a reinstatement of his salaries but all to no avail.
At the last hearing of the case on September 17, counsel to the defendants, Silas Amon, had prayed the court for adjournment to enable parties to explore out of court settlement of the dispute.
Counsel to the claimant, Kelvin Okoro, did not oppose the application while the court adjourned for report of settlement.
