AJEGBO, J.S.C.
This is an appeal by the defendant, the Western Nigeria Development Corporation (hereafter referred to as “the Corporation”), against the judgment of Somolu, J., in the Ibadan High Court awarding £2,650-10s damages and 200 guineas costs against the Corporation for wrongful dismissal of the plaintiff from his employment.
The plaintiff claimed £5,000 damages comprising £90-15s as special damages and £4,909-5s general damages. According to the writ the special damages represent “50 per cent of a month’s salary for three months at £60-10s a month during the period of purported suspension.” It is not in dispute that the plaintiff was a Foreman Grade I in the service of the Corporation and was on a salary of £726 per annum at the time of his dismissal.
The reason given by the Corporation for the dismissal was that a lorry was fraudulently removed from its workshop and that the plaintiff was privy to the fraudulent act. Relying also on the fact that the plaintiff had been querie…