THE family of a deceased Deputy Director of Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), Nnemeka Nwagbo, has dragged the agency, to the National Industrial Court, Abuja, over alleged unpaid benefits.

The family members, who are also the claimants are the deceased four children, Chimdinma, Amaka, Kenechukwu, Ugochukwu and their mother, Ngozi Nwagbo.

At the resumed sitting on Friday, the claimants counsel, Dr George Ogunyomi, told the court that the matter was slated for mention.

Ogunyomi informed the court that the defendant (NIA) had been duly served with processes, he however said the agency was yet to file any reply and neither was there it legal representation in court.

Justice Kiyersohot Damulak, adjourned the matter until March 21, for hearing and directed that hearing notice be served on the defendant.

The claimants in the suit, are asking the court to order the defendant to pay and deliver as required by law all Mr Nwagbo’s benefits such as gratuity and pension contributions as accrued, to him.

They are also seeking an order of the court directing the defendant to deliver and surrender all the deceased personal property and that of his widow taken away by the defendant to them after his death.

The claimants further in their relief are seeking the court to order the payment of unpaid children’s allowances and education fees to them as

The claimants who are also the administrators of the estate of the deceased, equally wants the court to direct the defendant to confirm to the pension administrator that the deceased was their staff.

This they said will enable the pension administrator compute the deceased pension contributions and pay them.

The Nwagbos in their statement of claims said the deceased died on June 29, 2010 while in active service.

They further claimed they approached the defendant for payment of the deceased’s benefits.

The defendant according to them, alleged that the benefits were paid to the deceased’s mother who was his next of kin in their record.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suit was first filed in 2012 in the same court.

The defendant however, filed statement of defence, and in it raised preliminary objection in respect to jurisdiction of the court.

The court in a ruling declined jurisdiction and transferred the matter to FCT High Court, Maitaima.

The claimants appealed the ruling in Court of Appeal and judgment was given in their favour.

The judgment held that Industrial court had jurisdiction to entertain the matter, hence the claimants instituted the matter via a fresh suit. (NAN)

– Mar. 1, 2019 @ 12:25 GMT |