11th March, 2011
There are indications that the 64 workers who were sacked by Unilever Nigeria Plc will soon get reprieve as the company has agreed to settle with them out of court.
At yesterday’s court proceeding, Justice Titilola Ojikutu-Oshode of the Ikeja High Court, suggested to the parties in the dispute to explore ways to settle the matter out of court.
Earlier, Unilever counsel, Mr. O.U. Kani had tendered a letter dated 7 June, 2010, signed by Michael Ademolu, a human resources officer which was addressed to two of the sacked employees.
The letter informed the two sacked workers, Eromosele Famous and Bolarinwa Bashiru, to pick up their entitlements at the Unilever head office at Oregun, Ikeja.
Kani told the court that the letter for final settlement of the other sacked workers will soon be sent to them.
Counsel to the sacked workers, Mr. Amobi Ogudu agreed to the suggestion made by the court after consulting with his clients.
The matter has been adjourned till 14 April, 2011 for report of settlement.
The 64 sacked workers had initiated a legal action against Unilever before a Lagos High Court in Ikeja, challenging the legality of their dismissal.
In a suit before Justice T. Ojikutu – Oshode, two ex- workers , Mr. Idono Omokenu and Mrs. Amuda Jimoh, had on behalf of the claimants, urged the court to hold that the action of Unilever to dismiss them without paying their entitlements was illegal and unconstitutional.
But Unilever had in its statement of defence, claimed that it never failed to fulfill any promise made, saying that the claimants and some other employees unlawfully withdrew their services and embarked on an unlawful industrial action.
—Henry Ojelu