The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) yesterday adjourned till May 9, a suit by a retired judge of the Lagos High Court, Justice Samuel Candide-Johnson, seeking the payment of his retirement benefits.
Justice Maureen Esowe fixed the date to allow parties in the matter time to explore an out-of-court settlement.
Justice Candide-Johnson instituted the suit over the state’s failure to pay his pension, gratuity and other entitlements.
Apart from Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, other respondents in the suit are the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), the Lagos State Judicial Service Commission and the National Judicial Council (NJC).
At the resumed hearing of the suit, a lawyer from the state’s Ministry of Justice, Saheed Quadri, prayed the court to adjourn the matter for four weeks to enable parties discuss and agree on a settlement.
The claimant’s counsel, Yemi Candide-Johnson (SAN), did not oppose the application, but asked the state to withdraw its preliminary objection to the suit to demonstrate that the request for settlement was done in good faith.