MTN has been ordered to pay a former operations manager a staggering N4.8billion Naira for wrongful dismissal in 2006.
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Akure Division presided over by Justice Oyejoju Oyewunmi, ordered the telecom giant to pay Mr Paul Odunewu, $13,419,728.54, £10,000 and N2,540,000 (totalling N4, 825,036,735.9) following wrongful termination of employment.
The case centered around MTN's failure to meet its commitment to Paul Odunewu, a UK-based chartered engineer, who was head-hunted in 2001 to help the company develop a robust telecom infrastructure in Nigeria. He was promised Share Option, a long-term incentive scheme being developed by MTN.
Judgement:
” The judge ordered MTN to make the payments within 30 days following which the sums would appreciate at 21 percent interest per annum. In reaching judgment, the court agreed with the submissions of Odunewu’s counsel, Mr Kemi Balogun (SAN) that MTN unfairly imposed a restraint of trade on Odunewu, thus preventing him from working for a period. The judge upheld Mr Balogun’s submission that the evidence showed that Odunewu neither committed any serious, persistent breach of the provisions of the agreement or the company’s code, nor was ever summoned to a disciplinary committee or found guilty of any misconduct or non-performance.
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Akure Division presided over by Justice Oyejoju Oyewunmi, ordered the telecom giant to pay Mr Paul Odunewu, $13,419,728.54, £10,000 and N2,540,000 (totalling N4, 825,036,735.9) following wrongful termination of employment.
The case centered around MTN's failure to meet its commitment to Paul Odunewu, a UK-based chartered engineer, who was head-hunted in 2001 to help the company develop a robust telecom infrastructure in Nigeria. He was promised Share Option, a long-term incentive scheme being developed by MTN.
Judgement:
” The judge ordered MTN to make the payments within 30 days following which the sums would appreciate at 21 percent interest per annum. In reaching judgment, the court agreed with the submissions of Odunewu’s counsel, Mr Kemi Balogun (SAN) that MTN unfairly imposed a restraint of trade on Odunewu, thus preventing him from working for a period. The judge upheld Mr Balogun’s submission that the evidence showed that Odunewu neither committed any serious, persistent breach of the provisions of the agreement or the company’s code, nor was ever summoned to a disciplinary committee or found guilty of any misconduct or non-performance.
