Ex-Guinness Territory Manager Sues for ₦100m Over Alleged Wrongful Termination
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Akure Judicial Division, presided over by Justice K.D. Damulak, on Tuesday heard the case of Mr. Ntima Chika Anya, a former Territory Manager with Guinness Nigeria Plc, who is seeking ₦100 million in damages for what he described as the wrongful, unlawful, and inhumane termination of his employment.
The defendants in the suit are Guinness Nigeria Plc and Mr. Moshood Adejoro, Anya’s former line manager, who remains in the company’s employment.
Through his counsel, Samuel Chukwudi Nmesi, the claimant opened his case and tendered 36 documentary exhibits, which were admitted in evidence. The matter was adjourned to 27 November 2025 for cross-examination by defence counsel, Ade Abioye.
Mr. Anya, who served as Territory Manager for Ilorin/Offa until his dismissal on 30 October 2020, alleged that his termination was tainted by bias, victimisation, and gross unprofessional conduct by his supervisor and other senior officials of Guinness Nigeria.
He averred that despite presenting a medical report from Olanrewaju Hospital, Ilorin, confirming dangerously high blood pressure, the company denied him both annual and sick leave. Instead, he was compelled to work during the COVID-19 lockdown and allegedly forced to market nearly expired Dubic Malt products, which he argued endangered his health and professional integrity.
The claimant further alleged that:
– His company assets were seized publicly.
– His termination letter was signed under duress at a distributor’s outlet in Ilorin.
– No exit clearance or orientation was conducted despite nearly a decade of service.
– He was denied proper medical care and forced out of hospital on the day of his dismissal.
He maintained that these actions aggravated his hypertensive condition, leading to severe vision impairment requiring corrective lenses.
Mr. Anya challenged the validity of the Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) cited by Guinness as justification for his dismissal, describing it as fraudulent and never formally initiated. He relied on internal emails tendered in evidence, which he said revealed inconsistencies in the PIP timelines and suggested deliberate intent to mislead the court.
Among the documents admitted were:
– Multiple medical reports, ECG scans, and referral letters to cardiologists.
– Commendation letters, salary review documents, and corporate awards for excellence (2019–2020).
– A death certificate of his mother, which he linked to his inability to finance her medication after his dismissal.
– A Certified True Copy of a 2023 NICN judgment in Bright Nwosu v. Guinness Nigeria Plc, where another former employee succeeded against the company.
Counsel to the claimant argued that Guinness’s conduct went beyond wrongful dismissal, describing it as “an attempted homicide” given the health risks and psychological trauma inflicted. He urged the court to view the case not only as a personal claim but as part of a broader pattern of abuse of power within the organisation.
Medical evidence before the court indicated that the claimant now requires urgent and possibly overseas medical treatment for complications arising from uncontrolled hypertension.
The court adjourned the matter to 27 November 2025 for continuation of cross-examination.
