Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
Lagos, Nigeria, May 08, 2016 – Former employees of Compass Newspapers, Published by Western Publishing, owned by former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel will on Monday, May 09, 2016, appear in court for the judge handling the matter to adopt written address by counsel to both parties.
Her Lordship, Justice O.O. Obaseki-Osaghae had adjourned the matter to Monday, to enable parties properly file their written address after which she will likely pick a date for judgment. The case came up before the trial judge in March 14, 2016 but could not be heard since counsel to the claimants was unavoidably absent, forcing the judge to fix May 9, 2016 for adoption of written address.
The journalists comprising Emmanuel Ukudolo, Victor Asowata, Azuka Nwokocha, Sebastine Eyinnna, Kolawole Ayodele, Hope Abel and Usoro Ndianobong filed the suit on Thursday March 27, 2015 at the Nigerian Industrial Court in Ikoyi, Lagos through their lawyer, Mr. Nkem Eke of Nkem Eke & Co Barristers and Solicitors.
The plaintiffs are pleading that the court should compel Gbenga Daniel , owner of Western Publishing to pay the workers all their emoluments running into several millions, account for unremitted tax deducted from staff salaries, unremitted pension deducted from workers salary and failure to remit cooperative contribution deducted from workers’ salaries among others.
Speaking in behalf of the complainants, Ayodele said that the Daniel’s Western Publishing, owners of Nigerian Compass owned them salaries in excess of one year and deducted payee which it refused to remit to the Ogun State Government; deducted cooperative contribution from source which it refused to remit to the cooperative; deducted contributory pension which it refused to remit to Trust Fund, IBTC Pension and other pension administrators even when it refused to pay its own share of the contributory pension.
He added that by so doing the company denied them legitimate income, right to retirement income and deprived them of their right as tax complying workers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They are also asking the court to award damages against the defendant.
