By Onozure Dania
AWKA
THE National Industrial Court sitting in Awka, the Anambra State capital, has adjourned till October 25, 2016 to rule on whether 235 workers unceremoniously laid off without sack letters, were engaged by oil and gas major, Chevron Nigeria Limited or four of the company’s contracting firms: JOCECO Nigeria Limited, Pat Onosen Nigeria Enterprises Limited, Sanco Calaya JV. Nigeria Limited and Hensteel Engr. & Construction Services Limited.
Trial judge,
Justice W. Abali
adjourned for
ruling after
listening to
arguments
from counsel to
Chevron, Mr
Akpomudje
Albert, SAN and
counsel to the
235 aggrieved
workers, Chief
V. Otomiewo.
While the Chevron counsel, argued that the claimants’ case against Chevron was weak, because working in Chevron yard does not make them (235 workers) Chevron staff, the workers lawyer posited that the argument of Chevron lacks merit, noting that correspondences/agreements authenticating the workers’ engagements between the 1st to 4th defendants (the contracting firms) were with Chevron.
Otomiewo cited NICM/CM/760/2014, a case between Prof. Greg Nwakobi Vs Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka as reference, urging the judge to consider that judgment which was granted May 19, 2016 in giving his ruling, adding the test case was yet to be set aside.
The claimants’ counsel contended that the entitlements of the 235 workers were in Chevron’s possession and urged the court to order Chevron to release their financial entitlements totalling N100 million.
It will be recalled that the aggrieved workers, who claimed Chevron recruited them and sublet them to the contractors to pay them, had approached the court in 2015 seeking N100 million as compensation/damages over an alleged breach of contract.
AWKA
THE National Industrial Court sitting in Awka, the Anambra State capital, has adjourned till October 25, 2016 to rule on whether 235 workers unceremoniously laid off without sack letters, were engaged by oil and gas major, Chevron Nigeria Limited or four of the company’s contracting firms: JOCECO Nigeria Limited, Pat Onosen Nigeria Enterprises Limited, Sanco Calaya JV. Nigeria Limited and Hensteel Engr. & Construction Services Limited.
Trial judge,
Justice W. Abali
adjourned for
ruling after
listening to
arguments
from counsel to
Chevron, Mr
Akpomudje
Albert, SAN and
counsel to the
235 aggrieved
workers, Chief
V. Otomiewo.
While the Chevron counsel, argued that the claimants’ case against Chevron was weak, because working in Chevron yard does not make them (235 workers) Chevron staff, the workers lawyer posited that the argument of Chevron lacks merit, noting that correspondences/agreements authenticating the workers’ engagements between the 1st to 4th defendants (the contracting firms) were with Chevron.
Otomiewo cited NICM/CM/760/2014, a case between Prof. Greg Nwakobi Vs Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka as reference, urging the judge to consider that judgment which was granted May 19, 2016 in giving his ruling, adding the test case was yet to be set aside.
The claimants’ counsel contended that the entitlements of the 235 workers were in Chevron’s possession and urged the court to order Chevron to release their financial entitlements totalling N100 million.
It will be recalled that the aggrieved workers, who claimed Chevron recruited them and sublet them to the contractors to pay them, had approached the court in 2015 seeking N100 million as compensation/damages over an alleged breach of contract.
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