“National Industrial Court Adjourns Hearing in Salary Dispute with Ibeto Group”

A National Industrial Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, has adjourned further proceedings in a lawsuit filed by Eze Sunday Eze, the former Group Financial Controller of Ibeto Group and seven affiliated companies, alleging unpaid salary and cessation of retirement benefits. The case, numbered NICN/AWK/04/2023, has been postponed until March 18, 2025, for further mention.

Justice O. Ogunbowale is presiding over the case, which involves a dispute between Eze and the Ibeto Group, which includes several subsidiaries: Ibeto Industries Limited, Ibeto Petrochemical Industries Limited, Ibeto Hotels Limited, Ibeto Cement Limited, Max Shipping Services Limited, Union Auto Parts Manufacturing Company Limited, and Odoh Holding Limited.

During the last hearing on February 5, the claimant was represented by R O Okonyia of Juri Chambers, while Gideon Ugwuanyi from Ikpeazu Chambers appeared for the defendants. The defendants’ counsel requested leave of the court to file their process, which the claimant’s counsel did not oppose.

The Dispute: Alleged Unpaid Entitlements and Retirement Benefits

The legal battle stems from Eze’s claim that, despite his 19 years of service to the company, he has been denied his salary and retirement entitlements. According to the claimant’s statement of claim, he was employed by Ibeto Group as the Group Financial Controller in 2001, with an official appointment letter dated November 6, 2001. His tenure began on December 1, 2001, but ended in May 2021 under contentious circumstances.

Eze alleges that on May 21, 2021, a meeting was convened by Dr. Cletus Madubugwu Ibeto, Chairman and CEO of the Ibeto Group, attended by Eze himself, the Group Executive Director for Operations and Investments, Eze Echesi, and the Group Chief Internal Auditor, Ben-Oscar Nwachukwu. It was in this meeting, according to Eze, that discussions about his unpaid salary and retirement benefits began to unravel.

The case will continue to unfold in March 2025, with both parties preparing for further legal proceedings.