Court Orders $1.4M Released to 110 Workers After 30 Years

After 30 years of fighting for justice, 110 former university employees in Nigeria are finally getting their due. The Court of Appeal in Abuja just ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to release $1.4 million (N2.5 billion) to workers who were wrongfully terminated from Ahmadu Bello University back in 1996.

The workers lost their jobs when General Mamman Kontagora, serving as the university's Sole Administrator, laid them off without proper justification. They spent decades fighting through the courts to prove their dismissal was unlawful.

In 2022, the National Industrial Court ruled in their favor and declared the mass firing illegal. The university deposited the compensation money with the Central Bank in 2018, but the funds sat frozen while legal battles continued.

The Central Bank tried to block the payment, arguing the workers needed special permission from Nigeria's Attorney General before collecting their money. A three-judge panel unanimously rejected that argument on Friday.

Justice Okon Abang delivered particularly strong words for the bank's leadership. He criticized them for using public funds to hire lawyers who fought against paying workers their rightful compensation.

"The unfortunate action of the CBN had prolonged the sufferings and hardships of the workers," the court stated. The judges emphasized that holding money meant for wrongfully terminated employees for years was both unethical and cruel.

Why This Inspires

This ruling represents more than money for 110 families. It sends a powerful message that even when institutions try to delay justice, the courts will eventually stand up for workers' rights.

Many of these workers have been waiting since 2013, when they first won their case. Some have struggled financially for decades after losing their livelihoods unfairly. Now they can finally access the compensation they've earned.

The court's sharp criticism of the Central Bank shows judges are willing to call out powerful institutions that abuse the legal system to avoid doing what's right. They warned of "heavy sanctions" if the bank continues to delay payment.

For workers across Nigeria facing unfair treatment, this case proves that persistence pays off. Three decades is far too long to wait for justice, but these 110 people never gave up fighting for what they deserved.

The money has been sitting ready since 2018, and now nothing stands in the way of these workers finally receiving the fruits of their labor.