ECOWAS Court orders WAPP to pay $280,000 compensation to dismissed staff

The Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, has ordered the West
African Power Pool (WAPP), a specialised agency of ECOWAS, to pay
280,000 dollars as compensation to its former staff, Mr. Babatunde
Adeyemo, for wrongful dismissal from the service of the agency.

The Judgment was delivered by Justice Keikura Bangura on
Wednesday at the ECOWAS Court in Abuja

The Court agreed with the plaintiff that the Cotonou-based WAPP
did not follow due process in terminating his appointment and
awarded 20,000 dollars for various breaches of staff regulations
and also 140,000 dollars as general damages for the wrongful
dismissal.

It also awarded a sum of 20,000 dollars against the WAPP as
costs pursuant to Article 66 (1) of the Rules of Procedure of the
Court.

In suit no. ECW/CCJ/APP/31/18 filed by his counsels Zakari Baba
Body, Irene Gassi,said the plaintiff, who was employed by WAPP in
2006 as Director of Information and Coordination of the agency,
alleged that the termination of his appointment about two years ago
was illegal.

The plaintiff averred that he was accused of disrespectful
behavior to the agency’s Human Resources and Governance Committee
during its 12th meeting of March 27 to March 29, 2017 held in
Cotonou after which his appointment was terminated after 11 years
of service without any query.

He added that following his suspension, he was called to face a
disciplinary committee and subsequently dismissed on Aug.8,
2017.

The plaintiff further averred that he unsuccessfully appealed
his dismissal in accordance with the agency’s staff regulations
before proceeding to the ECOWAS Court for redress.

Among the reliefs sought by Mr Adeyemo were an order of the
Court declaring that his dismissal did not follow due process, the
award of damages in the sum of 109,038 USD being three month
compensatory allowance in lieu of notice.

The payment by WAPP of the remaining two years of his social
security contribution prior to his scheduled retirement in 2019 and
2 million dollars as general damages.

The other Judges on the panel are Justices Edward Asante
(President) and Gberi-Be Ouattara (Vice President) of the
court.(NAN)

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