The Director of Legal Services of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Dr. Abdulwahab Oyedokun, testified on Monday before the National Industrial Court in Abuja that the dismissal of a former deputy director of JAMB, Yisa Usman, followed due process.
Oyedokun made this assertion under cross-examination by Usman’s lawyer, Mohammed Shuaibu, before Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae.Usman filed a N150 million lawsuit against JAMB, in suit number NICN/ABJ/266/2023, alleging that his dismissal was unlawful.He claimed that the composition of the Board’s Directorate Staff Disciplinary Committee, which recommended his dismissal, was irregular, illegal, and in violation of Article 3.5.4 of JAMB’s Staff Manual and Conditions of Service.
The claimant further argued that the irregular composition of the committee undermined his right to a fair hearing, as it failed to adhere to the requirements stipulated in the relevant public service laws.He urged the court to declare his dismissal by JAMB unlawful, illegal, null, and void.Usman also alleged that the committee’s composition largely included JAMB’s registrar and other directors who were beneficiaries of infractions he had exposed within the organization.
In his reliefs, the claimant sought an order for reinstatement to his position with full entitlements, benefits, and perks due to him.He is also requesting an order for the payment of all salaries, allowances, and other benefits he would have earned had he not been dismissed.Earlier, when the matter was called, JAMB’s counsel, Abiodun Owonikoko, SAN, led Oyedokun, the sole defense witness in evidence.Owonikoko tendered Dr. Oyedokun’s written witness statement, dated March 11, 2024, as evidence.
He also sought to tender 33 documents attached to the witness statement as evidence.Claimant’s counsel, Shuaibu, did not oppose the application but reserved the claimant’s right to raise objections in the final written address. Consequently, the court admitted the documents as Exhibits D-1 to D-33.In his testimony, Oyedokun referenced the certified documents, which detailed the timeline of the Board’s investigation into Usman’s alleged infractions, leading to his dismissal.
These documents included the report of the disciplinary committee, approval letters from the Federal Ministry of Education, and exoneration letters from government bodies that investigated Mr. Usman’s petitions against JAMB’s registrar and the Board.Other documents admitted into evidence included a query issued to Usman, his response to the query, reports of alleged misconduct, and correspondence between Usman and the disciplinary committee.
During the cross-examination, Shuaibu questioned Oyedokun about the composition of the disciplinary committee. The witness admitted that the committee’s composition should reflect federal character principles but maintained that a governing board circular superseded the provisions of the JAMB Staff Manual.Dr. Oyedokun also asserted that JAMB’s management has the authority to constitute a disciplinary committee and that the power to discipline or dismiss staff is enshrined in JAMB’s enabling Act.He further stated that the dismissal of Usman was conducted lawfully and in good faith.
The witness clarified that some members of the disciplinary committee, including JAMB’s registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and the director of finance and accounts, recused themselves due to Mr. Usman’s petitions against them to ensure a fair hearing.After the witness concluded his testimony, Owonikoko announced the closure of JAMB’s defense.
Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae adjourned the matter until May 28, 2025, for the adoption of final written addresses by both parties.
Sourcing for verified news is not cheap. We do everything possible to supply quality news and information to all our valuable readers day in, day out and we are committed to keep doing this.
Your kind donation will help our continuous research efforts.
