Former Group Financial Controller of Ibeto Group, Eze Sunday Eze, has sued his former employer before a National Industrial Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, over alleged unpaid salary and the cessation of his retirement entitlements.
Defendants in the suit include Ibeto Group, Ibeto Industries Limited, Ibeto Petrochemical Industries Limited, Ibeto Hotels Limited, and Ibeto Cement Limited Others are Max Shipping Services Limited, Union Auto Parts Manufacturing Company Limited, and Odoh Holding Limited.
The claimant in the suit narrated what made him resign from the company and how his various attempts to get his salary and retirement benefit have failed.
Eze according to the court papers stated that he was employed as the Group Financial Controller by Ibeto Group, with an offer dated November 6, 2001, and that his appointment took effect from December 1, 2001 and served the defendants in that capacity for 19 years.
He added that on May 21, 2021, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, CEO of the defendants, convened a meeting attended by him, the Group Executive Director for Operations and Investments and the Group Chief Internal Auditor.
According to the claimant, during the meeting, the CEO informed them that one of the company’s clients had made an initial payment of N2.7 billion for the first two years of a tenancy agreement for the Ibeto Terminal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Eze further claims that the CEO stated that he planned to settle his outstanding salary of N17,861,995.54, which was owed up to April 30, 2021, in three or more instalments
He added that the CEO allegedly informed him that his salary would be reduced to half starting May 2021 for an initial period of six months, after which the arrangement would be reviewed.
Eze, due to this, said that he chose to formally retire from his position and requested that all outstanding emoluments up to the date of his disengagement be paid. At the last hearing of the case on November 14, 2024, before Justice O. Ogunbowale, the claimant’s counsel, appeared in court, but the defendants’ legal representatives were absent.
The claimant’s counsel informed the court that he just took over over the case file and requested a brief adjournment to file the appropriate documentation for the change of representation.
Justice Ogunbowale granted the adjournment and fixed the next hearing date for February 5, 2025. [Vanguard]
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