Members of staff of Olugbemi Unique School, Angwan
Makama, Masaka, in Nasarawa State, on Wednesday dragged their proprietor, Jimmy
Lagundaye, to a Masaka Chief Magistrate’s Court over alleged non-payment of
three months salaries.
The complainants – Eze
Susan, Kemi Soje, Amina Obor, Ojo Jumoke, Abonyi Amalis, Patience Ogede,
Abdurazak Isah, Uver Charles, Amos Ebhohen, James Tor, Noel Blessing and
Pauline Opeh – were all present in court.
They averred that they
were on monthly salary at the school and they worked for three months, but the
proprietor refused to pay them their salaries.
They said that they
approached Lugundaye in respect of the issue, but he made several promises to
the Education Inspectorate Office, Area 1, Masaka.
Other bodies, he made
promises to pay to were Karu Local Government Area, Social Welfare, Honorable
Chairman of Karu Local Government and Masaka Police Station, but failed to pay.
They alleged that the
accused said that even if the School ran down, he had nothing to lose as he
would turn it to a mini estate.
The complainants said
that all their efforts for the accused to pay them their salaries totaling
N579, 000 proved abortive.
They prayed the court
to help them recover their monies.
The complainants’ counsel,
Mr Innocent Maagi, told the court that the offence of criminal breach of
contract and cheating contravened Sections 381 and 322 of the Penal Code.
Maagi urged the court
to use its discretion in the case, stressing that his clients were all family
men and women and this was their only source of income.
Maagi prayed the court
to give them a short date to hear the case.
The accused, however,
denied the allegation, stressing that they were not telling the truth.
The Magistrate, Mr.
Victor Manga, admonished Lugundaye to pay them their salaries if really he owed
them.
“There is a saying that
the labourer is worthy of his wages; anybody that worked must be paid, if you
don’t have money, you can negotiate with them as well because we are all
humans,” the judge said.
Manga granted the
accused N500, 000 bail with one surety in a like sum who must be a civil
servant on grade level 14.
He said that the surety
must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and must deposit his two passports
photographs in the court.
The Magistrate ordered
that if he failed to meet the requirements, he should be reminded in Keffi
Prison.
He adjourned the case
to March 9 for hearing.
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