National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Kaduna has ordered Keystone Bank Limited to pay N20.5 million in damages to Bamgboje Olasunkanmi, a former employee whose dismissal was ruled unlawful.
Justice Simisola Oluyinka Adeniyi, presiding over the case, declared that Olasunkanmi’s dismissal on August 3, 2016, was wrongful, unconstitutional, and void. In addition, the court set aside the dismissal letter issued to Olasunkanmi.
Delivering judgment in the case marked NICN/KD/28/2021, the court ruled that Keystone Bank must unfreeze Olasunkanmi’s salary account (Account No. 1160047972) and pay him the balance in the account. The court also ordered the bank to pay N20 million as general damages, along with N500,000 in legal costs.
Furthermore, the court awarded 10% interest on the judgment sum, effective from September 11, 2024, until the debt is fully paid.
Olasunkanmi, a former Control Officer at Keystone Bank’s Kaduna South branch, had challenged his dismissal in court, arguing that it was carried out without due process.
Represented by his lawyer, A. A. Manta, Olasunkanmi sought multiple declarations, including that his dismissal was illegal and a breach of the principles of natural justice.
He contended that the bank had assumed the role of a court by finding him guilty of a criminal offense without trial.
The claimant asked the court to reinstate him as an employee, unfreeze his account, and pay his withheld salaries and entitlements.
He also requested damages for defamation of character, legal fees, and an official apology from the bank, which he sought to be published in national newspapers and reported to the Central Bank of Nigeria.
In defense, Keystone Bank, represented by lawyers Godwin Udondiah and N. N. Bin, argued that Olasunkanmi, as the Resident Internal Control Officer, had breached bank policies by authorizing the withdrawal of N250,000 without proper documentation.
The bank also accused him of authorizing a debit on a customer’s account without following the correct procedures, leading to his dismissal for gross misconduct.
Justice Adeniyi, however, ruled in favor of Olasunkanmi, stating that Keystone Bank failed to provide sufficient justification for his dismissal.
The judge noted that the evidence presented by the claimant was overwhelming and that the dismissal did not adhere to the bank’s internal procedures or the law.
In the final analysis, the court ruled that while Olasunkanmi’s claims were valid in part, his dismissal was indeed wrongful, and he was entitled to damages.
