JEAN OMOKRI, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This is an appeal against the judgment of Ajakaiye, J., sitting in the Federal High Court, Calabar, delivered in Suit No. FHC/CA/CS/102/2004 on 27/9/07.
The brief facts of the instant case on appeal are that the respondent, who was the plaintiff at the court below, joined the employment of the 1st appellant on the 26/9/97. After her probationary period of 2 years she was confirmed on the 10/1/2000 and later promoted to the rank of Accountant 1 on the 1/1/2001. She thus became a pensionable staff in the Federal Civil Service of Nigeria thereafter.
On the 1/7/2002, she was suspended from work without pay on the ground of alleged case of financial impropriety involving the sum of N2 million. On 10/7/02, a panel of enquiry was appointed after having already punished her with a suspension without pay. Following a complaint lodged by the appellants to the Police, the respondent was arrested on 28/8/02 and later released. She subsequentl…