S. O. AWE O. OLASUNKANMI DAVID BEPO SAKA ALIMI V. GENERAL MANAGER, OSUN STATE WATER CORPORATION ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF OSUN STATE

AKINTAN, JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): The appellants were employees of Osun State Water Corporation. They were at the material time stationed at llesha Water Works. The 1st appellant was a Chief Works Superintendent on salary Grade Level (G.L.13); the 2nd appellant was a Senior Doser on salary G.L.2; the 3rd appellant was a Senior Craftman on salary G.L.5 and the 4th appellant was a Craftman on salary G.L.4. On 28th September, 1994, one Mr. Iyaniwura, the Area Engineer/ Manager of the Water Corporation in Ilesha, reported to the General Manager - 1st respondent, through a letter, the illegal removal of some water pipes by unknown persons from the corporation’s water pressure line in Ilesha. Following the report, the 1st respondent wrote a letter to each of the appellants suspending them from duties pending the outcome of the (...) theft of the water pipes. The letters issued from Ede office of the Corporation and dated 2/12/94 were similarly worded. The one written to the 1st…