The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Federal Government to reinstate Professor Monday Igwe as the Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, declaring the termination of his appointment unlawful, null, and void.
The court also voided the appointment of Dr Unaogu Ngozichukwu Nneka as substantive Medical Director of the hospital during the pendency of the suit, describing the action as overreaching and unlawful.
According to the Certified True Copy of the judgment delivered on December 11, 2025, obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, Justice Emmanuel Subilim held that the claimant, Prof. Igwe, had successfully proved his case against the defendants.
Delivering judgment in suit number NICN/ABJ/130/2024, the court specifically directed that Prof. Igwe be reinstated as Medical Director of the institution to complete his remaining three years and five months in office.
The court further ordered payment of the claimant’s emoluments from September 2023 up to the date of the judgment.
The 1st to 7th defendants in the suit are the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare; the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare; the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; the Attorney-General of the Federation; the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu; and the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Unaogu Ngozichukwu Nneka.
Justice Subilim held, “From the foregoing comprehensive analysis and having carefully weighed the evidence on the preponderance of probabilities, the court finds that the claimant has discharged the heavy burden of proof placed upon him.
“The procedure adopted for the purported termination of the claimant’s appointment was arbitrary, illegal, and a fundamental breach of the mandatory statutory provisions and regulations governing his employment. Consequently, the termination is hereby declared null and void, and of no effect whatsoever. I so hold.
“It follows, therefore, that the reliefs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g), as sought by the claimant, hereby succeed in their entirety.”
On the claim for general damages, the court stated, “From the evidence before this court, the salary of the claimant was unlawfully stopped when he was suspended in September 2023.
“I have already made an order for the payment of all his emoluments from September 2023 to date, which addresses the specific financial loss of salary.
“However, the claimant has also suffered significant distress, inconvenience, reputational damage, and disruption to his career and personal life as a direct consequence of the arbitrary and unlawful termination of his statutory employment.
“In view of these factors, and having considered the totality of the circumstances, I hereby award the sum of N3 million.”
The court, however, struck out the name of the Attorney-General of the Federation from the suit on the ground that the claimant failed to establish any link between the AGF and the case.
Court documents show that Prof. Igwe was first appointed Medical Director of the hospital via a letter dated April 12, 2019, for a tenure of four years.
His appointment was renewed for a second term following what was described as satisfactory performance during his first tenure.
The claimant was later suspended from office by a letter dated September 20, 2023, an action he argued was contrary to the Public Service Rules and the Approved Disciplinary Procedure for Chief Executives of Federal Government parastatals, agencies, and departments.
A ministerial committee subsequently investigated the allegations against him and recommended his reinstatement. Despite this, his appointment was terminated upon presidential approval, which the court found was based on misleading recommendations.
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