The National Industrial Court has nullified the dismissal of Mr Bamisaye Olutola, an assistant lecturer at the University of Lagos, ruling that the termination of his employment in 2021 was unlawful.
Delivering judgment on July 17, 2025, Justice Ikechi Nweneka held that the university failed to follow due process as required by Section 18 of the University of Lagos Act. The court ruled that Olutola’s appointment remains valid and deemed confirmed, ordering his immediate reinstatement with full entitlements.
The court further declared that the lecturer was unlawfully suspended for over 21 months without proper procedure and that the university lacked the authority to indefinitely interdict his employment.
In the suit filed in 2021, Olutola challenged his termination, arguing that it was carried out without the involvement of the university Senate, which is mandated to investigate allegations against staff. The court agreed, declaring the termination null and void.
Justice Nweneka ordered the university to pay all Olutola’s outstanding salaries and allowances from August 2021 to date and continue paying them going forward. She also awarded N750,000 in costs and imposed a post-judgment interest of 10 percent annually from August 15, 2025, if the university fails to comply within 30 days.
The court issued a perpetual injunction restraining the university from unlawfully tampering with the claimant’s employment in the future. However, claims for general damages and duplicate reliefs were dismissed to avoid double compensation.
Olutola, employed in November 2016 and regularised in March 2019, was suspended following allegations of misconduct. He later received a termination letter stating his services were no longer required. He argued that the university failed to confirm his employment after three years of service and never properly investigated the claims against him.
His legal team, led by Chief Paul Omoijiade, maintained that he had become a confirmed staff member by law. The university, represented by its own counsel, insisted he remained on probation.
The court ultimately sided with the claimant, declaring that the university’s actions breached statutory regulations and the terms of employment.
