Court restores Idoma Daughter, Rebecca Oamen as Director, declares her demotion, salary suspension illegal

The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the immediate reinstatement of Dr (Mrs) Rebecca Oine Julius Oamen, an Idoma daughter, as a Director with the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), declaring her demotion, removal from the agency’s payroll and suspension of her salaries and benefits illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

The judgment was delivered by Hon. Justice Emmanuel D. Subilim in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/37/2024, Dr (Mrs) Rebecca Oine Julius Oamen v. Federal Civil Service Commission & 2 Ors.

Justice Subilim held that the claimant proved her case in its entirety and granted all the reliefs she sought.

The court directed the Federal Civil Service Commission to immediately reinstate Dr Oamen to her position as Director on Grade Level CANRAISS 15, with all the rights, privileges and benefits attached to the office.

It also ordered the National Biosafety Management Agency to pay her the salary shortfall resulting from her placement on Grade Level 14 instead of her rightful Grade Level 15, beginning from February 2024 until the date of judgment.

Justice Subilim further declared that Dr Oamen’s removal from the NBMA payroll, the non-payment of her salaries and entitlements from December 2023, as well as her demotion and recall, were unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void.

The court also granted a perpetual injunction restraining the Federal Civil Service Commission, the National Biosafety Management Agency and the third defendant from implementing the commission’s letter dated December 12, 2023, which formed the basis of the disputed actions against the claimant.

In addition, the court awarded N500,000 in costs against the Federal Civil Service Commission and N300,000 against the third defendant in favour of Dr Oamen for the cost of prosecuting the suit.

The court dismissed in its entirety the counterclaim filed by the third defendant, holding that it lacked merit.