The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has ruled in favour of Professor Monday Igwe, ordering the Federal Government to return him to office as Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, after finding that his removal from the position was Unlawful and without legal basis.
Delivering judgment, Justice Emmanuel Subilim nullified the decision to terminate Prof. Igwe’s appointment and held that any action taken to replace him while the case was still before the court, including the appointment of Dr Unaogu Nneka as substantive Medical Director, was improper and amounted to overreaching.
The court found that Prof. Igwe had adequately proven his claims against the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and other parties named in the suit. Justice Subilim consequently directed that Prof. Igwe be restored to his position to complete the unexpired portion of his tenure, which stands at three years and five months.
In addition, the court ordered the payment of all salaries and entitlements owed to Prof. Igwe from September 2023 until the date of the judgment.
Justice Subilim faulted the process used in removing Prof. Igwe, describing it as arbitrary and in clear violation of the statutory provisions and regulations governing his employment. The court held that the procedure adopted failed to comply with the applicable Public Service Rules and approved disciplinary guidelines.
As compensation for the hardship suffered, the court awarded ₦3 million in damages to Prof. Igwe, citing the emotional distress, damage to reputation, and disruption to his professional and personal life caused by the unlawful action.
Prof. Igwe was first appointed Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, in April 2019 for an initial four-year term. His appointment was renewed in 2023, but he was later suspended by a letter issued in September 2023, a move he challenged as being inconsistent with established disciplinary procedures for chief executives of federal government institutions.