The National Industrial Court (NIC) sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic to pay its illegally suspended lecturer, Zoe Tamunotonye, all the outstanding salaries and entitlements the institution owed him since 2022 till date.

The trial judge, Justice, Zainab Bashir, in her judgment also awarded N5 million naira damages, and N500, 000 costs against the polytechnic for violating the rights of the lecturer.

The court further held that the suspension of Tamuntonye without pay over alleged sexual harassment by his employer was unconstitutional and violated the employee’s rights.

Justice Bashir said if the money was not paid by the school within 30 days, it would attract a post-judgment interest of 20 percent.

Tamunotonye, a lecturer at the polytechnic approached the court to order the management of the institution to pay his salaries, and entitlement and to stop his suspension over an allegation of sexual harassment even when the report of the panel set up by the institution to probe the incident was not made public.

Speaking after the judgment, the lawyer to the plaintiff, Shuaib Mustapha, said he was happy over the judgment adding that it would serve as a deterrent to other organizations.

Tamunotonye narrated his suffering at the hands of his employer but expressed happiness that he had been vindicated by the judgment. (The Nation)