KUMAI BAYANG AKA'AHS, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgment):When this appeal was called for hearing on 6 November, 2017 Mr. Arosanyin of counsel who settled the appellants brief was absent. The Court registrar said that learned counsel was duly notified through a text message sent to him on 3 November, 2017. Mr. John Baiyeshea learned senior counsel for the respondent then applied that since the parties had filed and exchanged the briefs, the appeal should be deemed as having been argued ex parte in accordance with Order 2 Rule 11(3) Supreme Court Rules.
The respondent was employed as a lecturer in the Department of Guidance and Counseling of the University of Ilorin in 1986. In 1997 she applied for sabbatical leave and one year sabbatical leave was approved by the Appointments and Promotions committee of the university. She then proceeded to the School of Psychology and Counselling, Rose Hampton Institute London. After the sabbatical, she applied for a year's leave of absence which…