An Abuja Division National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), has dismissed a suit filed by a pharmacist, James Abu, against his former employer, SAII Associates Limited/Gte, over the termination of his employment and alleged unpaid severance benefits.
Justice Olufunke Yemi Anuwe dismissed the suit after ruling that Abu failed to prove that his termination was wrongful or that the organisation owed him an outstanding balance of N1.82m in severance benefits.
The judgment was delivered on October 13, 2026, in suit number NICN/ABJ/340/2022.
Abu had approached the court through his lawyer, Paul Atayi Esq, seeking a declaration that the reasons given by SAII Associates for terminating his appointment were false and misleading.
He also sought an order compelling the organisation to issue him a letter of apology, pay him N1,824,699.84 as the outstanding balance of his severance package, and award him N176m in general damages for alleged unlawful termination.
Additionally, he demanded N7.4m as the cost of the legal action, including solicitors’ fees.
The claimant had told the court that he joined the organisation as an adviser on May 31, 2016, and rose to the position of regional director in August 2020. Adding that his monthly basic salary increased from N765,327 at the commencement of his employment to N1,430,416.66 before his appointment was terminated.
Abu also argued that the organisation’s claim of project restructuring and staffing efficiency was a pretext, insisting that the regional structure remained intact and that he was replaced in an acting capacity.
He also contended that the organisation’s subsequent recruitment exercises contradicted its claim of restructuring.
On his severance benefits, the claimant maintained that he was entitled to N5.5m after deductions but received only N3.68m, leaving an alleged balance of N1.82m.
In response to the suit, SAII Associates, through its lawyer, Muyiwa Ogungbenro, had argued that the termination followed a restructuring of the Global Health Supply Chain Programme-Procurement and Supply Management project, which it operated under an agreement with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The organisation also told the court that the project was reduced from nine regions to six as it approached its final phase, making three regional directors redundant. Adding that its severance policy provided for three weeks’ basic salary for every year of service, rather than the full monthly salary used in the claimant’s calculation.
In resolving the dispute, Justice Anuwe held that the claimant failed to establish that the reason given for his termination was false or that the organisation breached the terms of his employment.
The judge noted that the claimant did not provide sufficient evidence to substantiate his allegations that the restructuring was fabricated or that his position was retained after his departure.
The court also held that Abu failed to prove that his preferred method of calculating severance benefits was supported by the organisation’s employment policy.
Justice Anuwe found that the N3.68m already paid represented the claimant’s net severance entitlement after deductions.
The court consequently dismissed all the claimant’s claims for damages, apology, additional severance benefits and legal costs.
The judge did not make any order as to costs.