The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), sitting in Abuja, has ordered the service of a contempt charge against the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziak Adekunle Salako. The contempt proceedings arise from his alleged refusal to comply with a subsisting judgment of the court.
Also cited in the contempt notice (Form 48) is Dr. Unaogu Ngozichukwu Nneka, the current Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu.
The contempt application, marked NICN/ABJ/23M/2026, was initiated by Prof. Monday Igwe, who had earlier been reinstated by the court on 11 December 2025 as Medical Director of the same hospital.
In the substantive suit NICN/ABJ/130/2024, Justice Emmanuel Subilim declared unlawful, null, and void the purported termination of Prof. Igwe’s appointment.
According to the court, the evidence adduced before it established that included the claimant had three years and five months left in his tenure at the time of the unlawful termination. The termination procedure adopted was arbitrary, illegal, and in breach of statutory provisions governing his employment.
The claimant successfully discharged the burden of proof against all defendants except the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), whose name was struck out for lack of nexus to the case.
Listed as 1st to 7th defendants in the suit were: Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Attorney General of the Federation, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Dr. Unaogu Ngozichukwu Nneka (Medical Director, FNHE)
The court ordered payment of Prof. Igwe’s emoluments from September 2023 until the date of judgment, reinstatement of Prof. Igwe as Medical Director, Nullification of Dr. Nneka’s appointment as Medical Director and award of ₦3 million general damages for distress, reputational harm, and disruption to career and personal life.
The court emphasized that Prof. Igwe’s appointment had a statutory flavour, being a presidential appointment as Chief Executive of a Federal Government parastatal. Consequently, the Public Service Rules and the Approved Disciplinary Procedure for Chief Executives of Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, and Departments (Circular Ref. No. SGF/OP/I.S.3/T/163 of 19 May 2020) applied to his employment.
Despite the clear orders of the NICN, Prof. Igwe has not been reinstated. Instead, Dr. Nneka has continued to act as Medical Director in defiance of the judgment.
The contempt notice dated 14 April 2026, signed by Mr. Michael Okorie and his team of lawyers, warns: Unless you obey the directions contained in the order of the National Industrial Court, Abuja Division, delivered on 11 December 2025, which declared null and void the termination of appointment of Prof. Monday Igwe; nullified the appointment of Dr. Unaogu Ngozichukwu Nneka; ordered reinstatement of Prof. Igwe; and ordered payment of arrears of salary—you will be guilty of contempt of court and liable to be committed to prison.”
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