Orthopaedic doctor accuses hospital of failure to obey court orders

An orthopaedic doctor has accused the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada of failure to comply with various court orders reinstating him to office.

Dr Abdulkadiri Ahidjo Kawu, an orthopaedic specialist, was sacked in 2015 without a fair hearing, forcing him to file an action before the National Industrial Court in Abuja.

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 The Court of Appeal in Abuja had on February 28 ordered the hospital to reinstate him in compliance with an earlier order by a National Industrial Court in Abuja.

 In the judgement, Justice Peter Olabisi Ige struck out the appeal by the hospital having been withdrawn on the ground of incompetence.

 Justice Ige upheld the verdict of the Industrial Court delivered by Justice E. D. Isele on February 28, 2019, in NICN/ABJ/200/2015 between Dr Kawu Ahidjo Abdulkadir vs University of Abuja Teaching Hospital and two others.

 Justice Isele, among others, ordered the teaching hospital to reinstate the claimant to the rank of consultant orthopaedic surgeon.

 The judge ruled that “the termination of the claimant’s employment is unlawful and the said termination of the appointment of the claimant from the employment of the said 1st and 2nd defendant is hereby set aside.

“It is ordered that all salaries and allowances due to the claimant be paid at the said rank of orthopaedic surgeon upon his reinstatement by the defendants from the date he was terminated. The above order should be complied with within 30 days of this judgment.”

 Reacting, Dr Kawu said the various chief medical directors of the hospital have refused to comply with the orders and all efforts for an amicable settlement of the matter.

“Presently, I have gone to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala, Kano where I started from scratch with loss of seniority and salary but I am not bothered,” he said.

“The smile on the face of the patients I help every day is the reason I have become a doctor, not the money.”

Counsel to Dr Kawu, Yusuf Ali (SAN), in a letter dated March 1, 2022, urged the management of the hospital to comply with the judgements of both the trial and appellate courts forthwith “by computing and paying up his arrears of salary as computed and attached to this letter through the aid of the accounts department of the teaching hospital as our client is inclined to complying with the terms of the judgment by resuming back to work on Monday 7th March 2022.”

 In the letter signed on his behalf by Patrick Ikpegbu Esq, the law firm asked the Servicom and HR departments of the hospital to assist his return to the office.

The hospital’s spokesman, Mr Bisallah did not answer calls and a message sent to his mobile number.