……Court fines Ondo Poly for illegal action of Past Management.
COURT OF APPEAL DISMISSED APPEAL FILED BY RUFUS GIWA POLYTECHNIC OWO AND FINED THE INSTITUTION #300,000 –
SSANIP commends the Court for upholding the verdict of the Industrial Court on the demotion of staff by past Management of the Polytechnic.The judgement gives us the conviction that judiciary is still the hope for the hopeless.
In a landmark judgement that reinforces the notion of judiciary as the last hope of the common man, the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, Ondo State on Friday,18th July, 2025 dismissed the appeal filed by Management of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo against the Judgement of the Industrial Court on the case filed by the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo chapter against Management of the Institution on the demotion of its members.
In 2019, during the administration of the former Rector, Mr Gani Ogundahunsi and ably supported by the former Chairman of the Institution’s Board of Governing Council, Barrister Banji Alabi , a reorganisation exercise which intentionally targeted Non-teaching members of staff was illegally carried out by Management.
During this exercise and without regards to the extant rules of the Polytechnic, members of staff who were duly promoted by past Councils were demoted without any justification.
Some Members of SSANIP who had been promoted for over 5 years and those who had retired from the services of the Polytechnic for years were unjustly demoted from one cadre to another.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) consequent upon the directive of the National body of our union challenged the decision of Mr. Gani Ogundahunsi led Management at the industrial court where the action was declared null and void. The court further directed that the exercise be reversed.
Instead to listen to the voice of wisdom legally made by the court, Management of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo under the former Rector appealed the verdict of the Industrial Court at the Court of Appeal, Akure Division.
At its sitting held on Friday, 18th July, 2025, the Court of Appeal not only dismissed the appeal of the Institution but also awarded a sum of #300,000 against the Polytechnic.
SSANIP wishes to commend her Lordship at the Court of Appeal for the landmark judgement that has not only reemphasized our strong believe in Judiciary as the last hope of the common man but also put to shame the shenanigans and arbitrariness of the Gani Ogundahunsi led former Management of the Polytechnic whose administration never won a case legally in any court.
Justice may be delayed but it can never be denied.
E-signed
Comrade Saka-Olokungboye Nurudeen
Chairman
Comrade Olanitori Olayemi
Secretary
