“Court Adjourns Ex-Controller’s Case Against Ibeto” — Former Financial Head Seeks Entitlements After 19-Year Service
A National Industrial Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, has adjourned further hearing in the suit filed against Ibeto Group and seven other affiliated companies till March 18, 2025.
Trial judge in the matter is Justice O. Ogunbowale.
Ibeto Group and seven other affiliated companies were dragged before the court by Eze Sunday Eze, the former Group Financial Controller of the companies over alleged unpaid salary and the cessation of his retirement entitlements.
The companies listed as defendants in the law suit, numbered NICN/AWK/04/2023, include Ibeto Group, Ibeto Industries Limited, Ibeto Petrochemical Industries Limited, Ibeto Hotels Limited, and Ibeto Cement Limited.
Others were Max Shipping Services Limited, Union Auto Parts Manufacturing Company Limited, and Odoh Holding Limited.
At the last hearing of the suit on February 5, R O Okonyia from Juri Chambers appeared for the claimant, while Gideon Ugwuanyi from Ikpeazu Chambers appeared for the defendants.The counsel for the defendants applied for leave of court to file their process and there was no opposition from the counsel for the claimant.
Subsequently, the trial judge, Justice Ogunbowale adjourned the case till March 18, 2025 for further mention.
The claimant in his statement of claim attached to the suit gave detail of what made him to resign from company and how his various attempts to get his salary and retirement benefit fail.
Eze’s claim stated that he was employed as the Group Financial Controller by the Ibeto Group, with an offer dated November 6, 2001, and that his appointment took effect from December 1, 2001. He served the defendants in this capacity for 19 years.
Eze alleged that on May 21, 2021, Dr. Cletus Madubugwu Ibeto, Chairman/CEO of the defendants, convened a meeting attended by him, the Group Executive Director for Operations and Investments, Eze Echesi, and the Group Chief Internal Auditor, Ben-Oscar Nwachukwu.
