…By Dorcas Funmi for TDPel Media. The Court of Appeal in Abuja has supported the judgment of the National Industrial Court (NIC), which ordered the reinstatement of Mohammed Dauda, a former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
This decision comes after Justice Olufunke Anuwe of the NIC ruled that Dauda’s dismissal violated the NIA Act and directed that he be paid salaries and entitlements from March 2018 onwards.
Management Staff Disciplinary Committee
Justice Anuwe highlighted that according to the agency’s rules, the appropriate committee to investigate disciplinary cases against management staff is the “management staff disciplinary committee,” not the “special management staff disciplinary committee.”
This ruling emphasized the procedural irregularities in Dauda’s dismissal.’
Appeal Court’s Verdict
Despite the NIA’s dissatisfaction with the ruling, the Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Peter Ige, dismissed the agency’s appeal and upheld the NIC’s decision.
Justice Ige deemed the evidence leading to Dauda’s dismissal as frivolous and lacking in merit.
He resolved all contentious issues in favor of Dauda, ordering that his salaries and entitlements from the day of his dismissal be paid to him.
Retirement and Lack of Evidence
Justice Ige further stated that Dauda should be allowed to retire in service according to the relevant laws.
He emphasized that there was no evidence presented to the court to suggest that Dauda posed any risk or breached any laws during his tenure as Director General.
The Court of Appeal ultimately dismissed the appeal for lacking merit and affirmed the judgment of the National Industrial Court.
Background on Dauda’s Tenure
It is worth noting that Mohammed Dauda served as the head of the NIA from November 2017 to January 2018 before being replaced abruptly by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The recent court rulings have now reinstated him to his former position and ordered compensation for the period of his dismissal.