NATIONAL ELECTRIC POWER AUTHORITY V. MATTHEW ABA

R.D. MUHAMM AD, JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): The respondent herein i.e. Matthew Aba, was employed by the appellant National Electric Power Authority (hereinafter referred as “NEPA”) as a watchman in February 1983, His appointment was confirmed in February 1985. Sometime in April 1993, while the respondent was on duty, thieves broke into the premises of NEPA and stole some distribution materials. As a result of the theft, the respondent was issued with query. The respondent gave a reply to the said query. NEPA was not satisfied with the reply to the query and as such placed the respondent on interdiction. NEPA then set up an Ad-hoc Disciplinary Committe to investigate the matter. At the end of its investigation, the Ad-hoc Disciplinary Committee recommended that the respondent be dismissed. The respondent was accordingly dismissed on 7th March, 1994. Matthew Aba was aggrieved with his dismissal.He therefore sued NEPA, the appellant herein, at the Federal High Court, Kaduna, cl…