Telecommunication giants, MTN Nigeria Communications Limited has appealed against the decision of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Akure ordering it to pay a former employee more than N4 billion over alleged wrongful termination of appointment.
Justice Oyejoju Oyewunmi ordered MTN Nigeria and MTN Mauritius to pay its former Network Group Operations Manager, Paul Odunewu US $13.419 million, UK£10,000 and N2.540 million all totalling more than N4 billion for wrongfully terminating his appointment in 2006.
Reacting to the ruling, MTN stated that the Industrial Court took a position which “we consider detrimental to our interests”.
The telecommunication giants, in a statement, said it has reviewed the ruling and has thus appealed against the ruling at a higher court.
The full statement from MTN reads:
“We can confirm that the National industrial Court took a position which we consider detrimental to our interests in a suit filed by a former employee.
“The court’s position has been reviewed by our internal and external counsels. Following that review, we have approached a higher court requesting that the decision of the industrial court be set aside. We believe that there are critical elements of our case which were not fully considered by the lower court before taking its position. We are confident that the outcome at the superior court will be different and that justice will not only be done but will be seen to be done in this case.
“MTN is committed to a policy of openness, integrity, diligence and professionalism in the conduct of business – with customers, shareholders and each other. Our Code of Conduct stipulates high labour standards regarding all our employees. In addition we have processes in place to ensure that we act in accordance with international standards and local laws.
“We therefore maintain that we treat all our employees fairly, as captured in the details of our employment contracts, signed and legally binding. This situation was no different. The most basic commitment we make – to our customers, our shareholders, and each other – is to conduct ourselves in an ethical, honest and respectful manner”.
