NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION V. ISAIAH JACOBS AFOLAYAN K. RAPHAEL PAUL A. EDOGBANYAN MODUPE MICHAEL JOHN IZEBHOR MONDAYOMORUYI ISAH AGUNU PETER OGIEMANAGBA ALFRED OREGBEMHE ALBERT IRORERE ELIZABETH STEPHENS

AGBO JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): The respondents weretemporary employees of the appellant. They were relieved of their employment by the appellant and each paid off with the sum of N100,000.00 (one hundred thousand naira). Dissatisfied with the termination of their employment bythe appellant, they filed suit No. FHC/B/CS/186/2004 wherein the respondents claimed in paragraph 29 of their amended statement of claim as follows:

“29. The plaintiffs’ claim from the defendant as follows:

Declaration that the purported termination and dismissal of the plaintiffs by the defendant is wrongful, illegal, null, void and of no effect.

) A declaration that the plaintiffs, having put in between 8-12 years of selfless, tireless and meritorious service in the defendant company cannot be regarded as temporary staff but permanent staff.

) An order that the plaintiffs are entitled to all benefits and entitlements enjoyed by permanent staff upon theexpiration of 6 months after their employment.

An ord…