The National Industrial Court in Abuja has dismissed an application filed by Dr Ngozi Unaogu, Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, seeking to stop the enforcement of a judgment that removed her from office.
Justice Emmanuel Subilim delivered the ruling on Thursday and ordered the immediate reinstatement of Prof. Monday Igwe as Medical Director of the hospital.
The court said Igwe should be allowed to complete his tenure.
Justice Subilim held that the applicants failed to show any special, exceptional or compelling reason that would justify granting a stay of execution.
Unaogu and other applicants had asked the court to suspend the enforcement of its earlier judgment pending the hearing and determination of their appeal.
The earlier judgment had declared the termination of Igwe’s appointment unlawful, null and void.
The court also found that Igwe still had about three years and five months left before the end of his tenure.
Justice Subilim further held that Igwe had successfully proved his case against the defendants in the suit marked NICN/ABJ/130/2024.
Following the judgment, Unaogu filed a motion seeking a stay of execution.
The motion was marked NICN/ABJ/23M/2026.
Other applicants in the motion included the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Also listed were the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu.
In his ruling, Justice Subilim described the application as incompetent and contemptuous.
He also said it appeared to be an attempt to delay Igwe’s reinstatement.
The court consequently dismissed the application and awarded N500,000 in costs against the applicants.
Reacting to the ruling, counsel to Prof. Igwe, Michael Okorie, said the dismissal meant the original judgment remained valid and enforceable.
Okorie said official actions taken by Unaogu since December 11, 2025, when the original judgment was delivered, including appointments and contract awards, were null and void.
The ruling marks another major development in the leadership dispute at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu.
