SAULAWA JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This is an appeal against the decision of the High Court of Imo State holden at Owerri, dated 08/3/2001, Coram B. A. Njemanze J granting the respondent’sapplication for an order of certiorari , injunctive reliefs and consequential orders against the appellants.
The respondent was at all material times a civil servant of the Imo State Government. He was first employed in the year 1962 as a messenger in the civil service of the defunct Eastern Nigerian Government and later East Central State. In September 1975, he gained admission into the University of Nsukka for an undergraduate course. He applied for and was granted a study leave without pay for a period of four years. He graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Political Science in 1979. He later in 1980 applied for and was given a fresh appointment on probation by the 1st appellant. He served as Secretary of the Imo State Executive Council from 01/4/93 until he was purportedly retired in 1999…