Former Group Financial Controller of Ibeto Group, Sunday Eze, has taken his former employer to National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Asaba over alleged unpaid salary and retirement entitlements.
Defendants are Ibeto Group, Ibeto Industries, Ibeto Petrochemical, Ibeto Hotels, Ibeto Cement, Max Shipping Services, Union Auto Parts Manufacturing Company and Odoh Holding.
Eze was employed as the group Financial controller by Ibeto Group on November 6, 2001, with effect from December 1, 2001, and worked for 19 years.
He said on May 21, 2021, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Madubugwu Ibeto, convened a meeting attended by him and other executives.
Ibeto 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 Ibeto Terminal in Port Harcourt.
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Eze said Dr. Ibeto promised to settle his outstanding salary of N17,861,995.54, which was owed up to April 30, 2021, in three or more instalments.
The claimant said Ibeto informed him his salary would be reduced to half from May 2021 for an initial six months, after which the arrangement would be reviewed.
Eze said he formally retired from his position and requested that all outstanding entitlements be paid.
At the last hearing on November 14 before Justice O. A. Ogunbowale, the claimant’s counsel appeared but the defendants’ legal representatives were absent.
Justice Ogunbowale adjourned till February 5, for hearing.