Oyo Pensioners Sue Gov. Ajimobi Over N42bn arrears

 

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and five others have been dragged before an Oyo State High Court in Ibadan by  Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) Oyo State Chapter over his failure to pay N42.3 billion gratuities and pensions arrears owed primary school teachers and local government pensioners.

Also in the defence are the Oyo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Commissioner for Finance as well as the Accountant-General and the state’s Head of Service.

union’s counsel, Lasun Sanusi (SAN), on Tuesday before Justice Maruf Adegbola admonished the court to order the Oyo State Government to pay the arrears of the concerned pensioners.

He added that the pensioners were dying almost on daily basis due to difficulty in getting medications for their various health challenges.

The Counsel further preyed the court to consent to an agreement by his client and the Oyo State government to pay the arrears instalmentally.

While urging the court to give it judgment, he adviced the Oyo State government not to shed the responsibility to pay the said money.

The counsel also said that other respondents in the suit had been served except Ajimobi, urging the court to grant his ex-parte motion seeking its leave to serve the governor by substituted means.

He requested that court should order the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, being the chief law officer of the state, to serve the governor.

Adegbola consequently granted the ex-parte motion and ordered that the processes be served on the governor through the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

He adjourned the case till July 11 for hearing. NAN reports that non of the respondents was in court.

Representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state also attended the court sitting.