183 former political office holders of the immediate past governor of Bauchi State, Mallam Isa Yuguda have dragged the state government to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Bauchi, over N600 million unpaid severance gratuity.
Speaking to journalists at the court premises shortly after the case was mentioned Wednesday, before the presiding Judge, Justice Waziri Agbe, one of the aggrieved former aides, Dalhatu Ibrahim Ningi, a former Senior Special Assistant, Protocol to the former governor said they sue the state government to claim their rights.
Ningi who is the Chairman, Forum of Former Political Officer Holders said that they met with the state government several times and have written for them to be paid their severance gratuity.
“They promised us several times and gave us letters that they would definitely pay but up till now, they have not paid us and they didn’t call for any settlement between us and them. That is why we are here today (Wednesday) with our lawyer to claim our rights," he said.
On his part, Counsel to the plaintiffs, Barrister Anieken Mendie, said: “It is better the Government comes to their aid and settle because this is a claim fixed by law. We have a gazette fixing it and they have no defence against the claim before the court," he said.
In his reaction, counsel to the state government, Barrister Ibn Idris said it was true that some former aides of ex-governor Isa Yuguda have dragged the state government to court over alleged severance gratutity.
“For you to get a clear picture of what gather claim is and what our responses is, I think you have to refer to the processes we filed in exchange. They have served us with their claims and we have served them the government side of the defence. I advise you refer to the court processes since the matter is in court," he said.
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