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Court fines Dangote for abusing, maltreating, oppressing staff

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1 year ago

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The National Industrial Court has lambasted and purnished Africa’s richest man and the 67th richest person in the world, Aliko Dangote and his cement company for abusing, maltreating and oppressing his staff.

Ironically, the majority of Dangote’s fortune is derived from his 86 per cent stake in publicly-traded Dangote Cement. But despite his staff being the backbone of his fortunes, they have continually been objects of some form of abuse and unfair treatment by his company, Dangote Cement.

This is as the Presiding Judge, Lokoja Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court, Hon. Justice Oyebiola Oyewumi declared Dangote’s act of withholding a staff, Mr. Malafa AbdulAzeez’s salaries and entitlements as unlawful, abusive and oppressive. The judge further awarded the sum of N645,780.00. (Six Hundred forty-five Thousand, Seven Hundred and Eighty Naira Only) the equivalent of Malafa’s 3 months’ salary as damages and N100,000 as cost of action.

The Court held that an employee is entitled to his wages, as withholding it amounts to withholding the very life of that employee or sniffing life out of him.

Justice Oyewumi ruled that the non-payment of Mr. Malafa’s salaries and entitlement is illegal, unlawful and unconscionable and should be paid forthwith.

The Claimant- Mr. Malafa AbdulAzeez had submitted that he was employed by Dangote Cement in 2003 and after his employment was terminated on 13th May 2019, he went to the office in line with the directive in the letter of termination to finalize the release of his salaries/entitlements and was told that he will not be paid.

Mr. Malafa contended that the non-payment of his salaries and entitlements by the company since September 2018 (except February 2019) is illegal, unlawful, abusive and humiliating.

However, the defendant- Dangote Cement made a physical appearance but failed to file any defence to the suit.

The claimant counsel, Nyenke Ikpendu C.J. Esq submitted that the failure of the firm to call evidence in the matter should be adjudged that the defendant has no defence to the action and his client has proven his entitlement to the reliefs sought by his unchallenged statement on oath, urged the court to grant the reliefs sought.

In a well-considered judgment, the presiding Judge, Justice Oyebiola Oyewumi noted that the failure of Dangote Cement to cross-examine the claimant even when given the opportunity to exercise the right operate as a tacit acceptance of the truth of the testimony of Mr. Malafa.

Justice Oyewumi stated that the right given to an employer under a master-servant relationship does not include the right to deny an employee his lawfully accrued earnings after the termination of employment.

“From the above, it is not in doubt that Claimant having worked for the defendant is entitled to be paid and the defendant does not have any power to withhold it and is in law estopped from withholding his salaries and entitlements from him without any justification. An employee is entitled to his wages and he cannot be denied same under any guise or excuse.”

In January, Dangote was ranked the 97th richest person globally, with a net worth of $19.2 billion. In February, the Nigerian billionaire moved up the ranking to become the 83rd richest person in the world, vaulting over popular Russian businessman and owner of Chelsea Football Club Roman Abramovich, who is now ranked 149th on the list of the world’s 500 wealthiest people.

As of March 2022, Dangote moved up the rankings, becoming the 73rd richest person globally with an estimated net worth of $20 billion. The launch of his newly built $2.5 billion fertiliser plant in April, coupled with the surge in Dangote cement behemoth’s shares, has seen his net worth exceed $20.7 billion.

The 64-year-old Nigerian businessman’s wealth has surged by over $1.5 billion this year, but despite the growth, staff have continued to lament poor working conditions.

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Kano Ward Executive Council Suspends APC Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje Over Corruption Allegations..

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1 day ago

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April 15, 2024

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Says He Must Clear His Name Of Corruption Allegations

Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been suspended by members of his ward, the Ganduje Ward in the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State.

The Executive Council of Ganduje Ward led by Haruna Gwanjo made this known during a press briefing in Kano on Monday.

Gwanjo said that the former governor has to clear his name of corruption allegations regarding his long-standing dollar case.

The Kano High Court would arraign Ganduje on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 on charges bordering on allegations of bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds, including the purported acceptance of $413,000 and N1.38bn in bribes.

The Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Dederi, had said Ganduje would be arraigned alongside his wife and six others.

The Kano State Government led by Governor Abba Yusuf, which initiated the criminal suit against the eight respondents, had declared its readiness to present 15 witnesses to testify before Justice Usman Na’aba of State High Court.

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WHY IS ODUNMBAKU BABA ETO’S NAME ON EVERY LIP? 

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4 days ago

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April 12, 2024

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By Sesan Lamuye – A Political Analyst

 

Cardinal James Omolaja Odunmbaku, the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) cleric and political engineer, is one of a kind who stands in a unique class of his own.

 

His types don’t happen too commonly. Infact, in our clime, he is a rarity, to have one person clothed in celestial and terrestial robes so fittingly.

Only few of his peers can honestly say they don’t envy his sartorial elegance whenever he appears in his ecumenical garments. And when he sheds that, to adorn the political regalia, he’s also a people’s delight.

 

Few of his type readily come to mind anywhere – in Africa or in any continent. I think of Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa and, elegantly speaking, Archbishop Makarios of Cyprus who ruled from both the pulpit and the polity in his life time.

 

Odunmbaku, better known as “Baba Eto”, is a mortal, but given the extraordinary gift of the garb and demonstrable style that is uniquely his own, he’s fast assuming the status of an indispensable human specie.

 

His type acquire larger than life status that is bound to attract positivity and negativity.

Those who are enamoured of him present to the world a cult-like image of him. To them, he can do no wrong. One such person, before the satanic instinct in man, reared its ugly head in him, was so fanatical of the man, Eto, he registered some of his personal vehicles “Aremo”, for which he used to tell those who cared to know, that he was “heir-apparent” to Eto. Today, that person is singing new tunes, as if his new listeners cannot decipher sychophancy and crass opportunism in his new drumbeats.

 

Another was said to have appeared at a political interview panel where, when asked what credentials she had to seek a position, she matter-of-factly told the panelists “Eto”. And when repeatedly asked what qualifications did she have to think she was fit for the job, she retorted: ” Eto ! Eto !! Eto !!!

That secured the job for her !

 

Such a person is bound to attract envy, jealousy and disdain, dislike, or even hatred to himself. That is the fate of Baba Eto !

 

There must be something extra going for the “priestly-politico” that the talent-discoverer, otherwise known as Bola Ahmed Tinubu, identified him to drive his gubernatorial campaign in Lagos State; and has ever since held on to him so fanatically that he has solely led the campaign of other guber candidates like Babatunde Raji Fashola, Akunwunmi Ambode and Babajide Sanwoolu to roaring successes.

 

If beneficiaries of Baba Eto’s gifts turn round to paint scurrilous pictures of the man, such people can only be consigned to the dustbin in which immortal Chief Obafemi Awolowo put those he described as ingrates of his large-ness of heart. As the late sage declared: ” There’s no escape for those who deny benefits”

 

Let the person without any blemish come out and cast the first stone. If we put aside belly-aching, jealousy and such-like vices, you cannot encounter Odunmbaku, Baba Eto, on the pulpit or the political rostrum and not doff your hats for this quintessential orator, mobiliser and professor of political mobilisation.

 

If some see him negatively from the positive binoculars with which Tinubu and many more view Baba Eto, then such minority must be wearing blurry blinkers in their faces.

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Just In: Bobrisky Sentenced To 6-Month Jail Term Without Option Of Fine Over Naira Abuse

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5 days ago

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April 12, 2024

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Instagram crossdresser, Idris Okuneye popularly know as Bobrisky has been sentenced to 6-month jail term by Justice A.O Awogboro of the Federal high court, Ikoyi.

 

It was earlier reported that Bobrisky was Arraigned and charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for abuse of the Naira note.

 

 

 

More details to come …..

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