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The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Kaduna has ruled against Keystone Bank Limited, ordering it to pay N20.5 million in damages to Bamgboje Olasunkanmi, a former employee whose dismissal was deemed unlawful.
Justice Simisola Oluyinka Adeniyi, presiding over the case, found that Olasunkanmi’s dismissal on August 3, 2016, was wrongful, unconstitutional, and void. The court also invalidated the dismissal letter issued to Olasunkanmi.
In the case marked NICN/KD/28/2021, the court ordered Keystone Bank to unfreeze Olasunkanmi’s salary account (Account No. 1160047972) and pay him the balance. Additionally, the bank was instructed to pay N20 million in general damages, along with N500,000 in legal costs.
The court also mandated that interest at a rate of 10% be applied to the judgment amount, effective from September 11, 2024, until the debt is fully settled.
Olasunkanmi, formerly a Control Officer at Keystone Bank’s Kaduna South branch, had contested his dismissal, arguing that it was executed without due process. Represented by lawyer A. A. Manta, Olasunkanmi sought several declarations, including that his dismissal was illegal and breached natural justice principles. He contended that the bank acted as if it were a court, finding him guilty of a criminal offense without a trial.
Olasunkanmi requested reinstatement, the unfreezing of his account, payment of his withheld salaries and entitlements, as well as damages for defamation of character, legal fees, and a formal apology from the bank, which he sought to be published in national newspapers and reported to the Central Bank of Nigeria.
In its defense, Keystone Bank, represented by lawyers Godwin Udondiah and N. N. Bin, argued that Olasunkanmi, in his role as Resident Internal Control Officer, had violated bank policies by authorizing a N250,000 withdrawal without proper documentation. The bank also claimed he authorized a debit on a customer’s account without following procedures, leading to his dismissal for gross misconduct.
Despite these claims, Justice Adeniyi ruled in favor of Olasunkanmi, stating that Keystone Bank failed to justify the dismissal adequately. The judge noted that the evidence presented by the claimant was compelling and that the dismissal did not comply with the bank’s internal procedures or legal requirements.
In conclusion, the court determined that while Olasunkanmi’s claims were partially valid, his dismissal was wrongful, entitling him to damages.
