The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has dismissed the appeal of the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof. Felix Salako.

Salako had sought a stay of execution of the judgment on his plan to sanction some workers for joining unions.

The Judge, Justice J.D Peters, held that the appeal lacked merit, thereby dismissing the case, ordering that the applicant would pay the cost of the proceeding in the sum of N100,000.

Earlier in May 2022, the court had in its judgment awarded the sum of N200,000 against the FUNAAB VC and ordered him to halt the query issued to workers.

The workers had reportedly been made to write an undertaking not to join any union while working in the university.

They (workers) later decided to join a union which made the VC to issue them queries.

The workers, therefore, dragged Salako to the court and won.

Not satisfied with the judgment, Salako decided to file an appeal.

Justice Peter, however, dismissed the case, noting that the Court of Appeal had not ordered the stay of execution of the ruling.

He said, “I have read and understood all the processes filed for and against. I note that there is no order or directive of the Court of Appeal to this court to stay any execution of the said ruling.

“I find nothing on the face of this application to support the assertion that indeed, a valid appeal lies at the Court of Appeal in this matter.

“More importantly, I found that the provision of the Order 64 of the rules of this court and especially rules 8, 9, and 13 have not been complied with.

“Accordingly, I find no merit in this application. It is dismissed without hesitation. The applicant shall hereby pay the cost of this proceedings to the respondent in the sum of N100,000 only.”