MR EMMANUEL OCHEDI V. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC.

MOHAMMED LADAN TSAMIYA, J.C.A., (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal against the decision of the High Court of Justice, (herein referred to as the Trial Court) sitting in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State, dismissing the claim of the plaintiff (herein referred to as the appellant) in favour of the defendant (herein referred to as the respondent) on 14/01/2009.

The brief facts of the matter according to the statement of claim is that, the appellant was employed by the respondent in May, 1989 and eventually rose to the rank of officer (ii), until sometime on 30th August, 2005 when he was invited by the police for investigation on an alleged fraud at the Makurdi Branch of the respondent. The appellant was promptly suspended from work without pay contrary.

In the course of investigation, one Audu Adah (the cashier of Makurdi Local Government Pensions Board) confessed to embezzling N3.3 Million. Further sums were recovered from the two other staff of the respondent Bank a…