The Claimant, Mr. Blessed Nehemiah, was employed by the Defendant, Savannah Suites Limited, a hospitality company located at No. 8 Faskari Street, Area 3, Garki, Abuja, as a security personnel in 2019. His employment was to be confirmed within twelve (12) months as stated in his letter of engagement, which the Defendant failed to do within time. Despite the delay in confirmation, the Defendant continued to retain and promote the Claimant, eventually elevating him to the position of Chief Security Officer.

On the 29^th of November, 2023, the Defendant issued a letter of indefinite suspension without pay to the Claimant, pending the outcome of an investigation, the nature and status of which were never disclosed to him despite repeated visits to the Defendant’s office. After over six months without communication, the Claimant instituted an action before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria challenging the lawfulness of the suspension.

In a judgment delivered on the 9^th of July, 2025 the Court found thus:

1. That it is hereby declared that the purported indefinite suspension of the claimant by the defendant as contained in the letter dated 29/11/2023 is hereby declared wrongful, unlawful and illegal.
2. The Defendant is hereby ordered to pay to the Claimant all arrears of monthly salary that have accrued in the sum of N55,000.00 from December, 2023 to when Claimant is reinstated with pay.

3. An order is hereby granted awarding the sum of N2,500,000.00 as damages against the defendant.

4. An order is hereby granted reinstating Claimant back o his employment with the defendant. 

5. Judgment is hereby entered. Cost of N350,000.00 is hereby awarded.

T.R. Agbanyi, Esq. 

(Claimant’s Counsel)