President of Nigeria's Industrial Court Recuses Himself from CBN Case Due to Conflict of Interest

Benedict Kanyip, the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, has recused himself from hearing the cases filed by 62 former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) officials who recently lost their jobs. Kanyip's decision came after it was revealed that a lawyer representing the CBN, Obafemi Agaba, is his in-law.

The 62 ex-CBN employees individually sued the bank, contesting their termination, which was communicated through a letter titled “REORGANISATION” effective May 24, 2024. They argue that their dismissals violated the CBN Act of 2007 and the bank's Human Resource Policies and Procedure Manual (HRPPM). The claimants have described the terminations as “arbitrary, unlawful, null, and void.”

In their lawsuits, the former employees are seeking several reliefs, including a declaration that their employment contracts remain valid, an order to set aside their terminations, and reinstatement to their previous or higher positions. They also demand payment of all salaries, allowances, and entitlements they would have earned if their employment had not been terminated.

During Tuesday's court session, 31 of the cases were scheduled for hearing, while the remaining 31 were set for Wednesday. The claimants' counsel also submitted a motion to consolidate the cases for efficiency.

As the first suit was called, Ola Olanipekun announced his appearance for the claimants, while Agaba represented the CBN, indicating a consortium of law firms, including Damian Dodo & Co. When Kanyip disclosed his familial connection to Damian Dodo, he expressed discomfort presiding over the matter due to the potential conflict of interest. He subsequently announced his recusal, stating that the cases would be reassigned to another judge for adjudication.

The judge also sought the claimants' counsel's opinion regarding the situation before officially stepping down from the cases.