17th February, 2011
A retired staff of John Holt Plc, Mr. Lateef Agboola, has dragged the company before a Lagos High Court sitting int Ikeja, Lagos, over failure to pay his retirement benefit.
In a statement of claim filed before the count by a Lagos lawyer, Oluwole Kehinde, the claimant averred that he was employed by John Holt on 11 April, 1994 and served the company diligently before he was retired on 24 February, 2010 via a letter dated 26 February, 2010.
In the said letter of retirement, the company stated his entitlement to include basic salary and allowances up to 26 February, 2010; three months basic salary in lieu of notice of retirement; gratuity and repatriation allowance back to his home town, all amounting to N4,692,834.58 minus his indebtedness of N1,500,000.94 to the company, thereby leaving him with the balance of N3,192,833.64.
However, the claimant averred that the company has failed to pay the said entitlement, consequent upon which he instructed his solicitors to demand for same but his claim was disputed, thereby urging the company to produce evidence to substantiate its claim but could not do so.
Agbola therefore contended that the company has no defence to this suit and he is consequently claiming N3,192,833.64 being the total entitlement due to him from John Holt upon his retirement with interest on the rate of 21 per cent per annum till judgement is delivered and thereafter, 21 per cent interest per annum until liquidation.
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