The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Lagos has granted interim relief to Mr. Yemi Badru, a Deputy Superintendent of Immigration, attached to Ikoyi Passport Office, who was slapped at the course of duty by a Superintendent of Immigration, Mr. U.N. Umar.

Badru, who was subjected to the disciplinary panel after his ordeals with the officer were reported in the media, has approached the court for protection as a result of the query issued to him. In the query dated August 28, 2019, and signed by Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, ACI M.B. Isyaku for Comptroller of Immigration Service, passport command, Lagos, the service alleged that Badru granted and transmitted information to journalists after he was advised to seek redress within the service without involving external bodies.

The actions, which also include a petition to the Nigeria Police Force, the service said, amounted to unauthorised disclosure of official information and therefore contravenes the public service rules and extant standard operational procedures, thereby making him liable to serious misconduct under the provision of Public Service Rules section 4, subsections 030402(1) and (w).

But Badru in a suit seeking for an order of interim injunction restraining the Nigeria Immigration Service, through its officers from harassing and intimidating him, pending the hearing of the motion on notice filed before the court. He also sought an interim order restraining the service from terminating his employment pending the hearing of the motion.

  

In his ruling, Justice Paul Ahmed Bassi restrained the Nigerian Immigration Service from proceeding with a query issued Badru. The court also ordered parties not to engage in any actions that could affect the subject matter of the suit pending the hearing of the motion.

In a petition to the police, which was made available to the media, Badru complained about the assault on his person by Umar, who slapped him severally in the course of his duty. According to him, the beating, which was unprovoked, resulted in bleeding from both his nose and ear sequel to which he was treated at the military hospital, Obalende.

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