Industrial Court Orders Pharmaceutical Company to Pay Ex-Staff and Return Certificate Within 7 days
Hon. Justice Isaac Essien of the Lagos Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court has ruled that Greenlife Pharmaceuticals must return the original Pharmacy certificate of their former employee, Chinedu, within seven days.
The court found that, regardless of any claims Greenlife Pharmaceuticals may have against Chinedu, it was unlawful for the company to retain his original certificate after his employment had been terminated. The judgment comes after Chinedu accused the company of withholding his certificate, which he claimed prevented him from finding employment.
In addition to returning the certificate, Justice Essien ordered Greenlife Pharmaceuticals to pay Chinedu a sum of N219,300, representing his salary from January 2020 to March 16, 2020, as well as a N200,000 cost of action, all to be paid within 30 days.
Chinedu had claimed that he was employed by the defendant on July 15, 2016, but his employment was wrongfully terminated on March 16, 2020, without receiving any notice or payment. He alleged that his original Pharmacy certificate, submitted to the company during his employment, was still being held by Greenlife Pharmaceuticals, making it impossible for him to earn a living.
In its defense, Greenlife Pharmaceuticals argued that Chinedu had outstanding debts to the company and that returning his certificate without settling the debt could make it difficult to recover the owed amount.
However, Justice Essien emphasized that the court was not concerned with any alleged criminal wrongdoing or liabilities against Chinedu. The judge ruled that, regardless of any financial disputes, it was improper for Greenlife Pharmaceuticals to continue holding onto Chinedu’s certificate after the termination of his employment. The court also dismissed Chinedu’s request for general damages, stating it lacked merit.
