FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA LTD V. NNAEMEKA EMENIKE & ORS

E. O. WILLIAMS-DAWODU, JCA (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This appeal emanated from the Judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja, which was delivered on March 12th 2019 by Hon. Justice B. B. Kanyip, Hon. Justice R. B. Haastrup, and Hon. Justice Sanusi Kado wherein the Court found in favour of the Respondents amongst other things that the dispute between the Parties was a trade dispute and that the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP), had jurisdiction to have heard the matter.

The Court below heard the matter on Appeal from the IAP, the Appellant being dissatisfied with the award against it by the Panel filed an objection with the Hon. Minister of Labour and Productivity that the Panel lacked jurisdiction to deal with matters relating to trade dispute that it is the National Industrial Court that has exclusive jurisdiction to determine disputes from trade disputes and employment. Upon being dissatisfied further with the Judgment of the Court below, the Appellant ha…