AKA’AHS JSC (Delivering the Lead Judgment): The appellant was employed bythe Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) in October 1983 as an administrative officer II. In 1986, he was promoted to administrative officer I and subsequently seconded to the Nigeria Gas Company Limited, a subsidiary of the NNPC in 1989. He was thereafter, promoted to senior administrative officer, which rank he retained until 26 September 1990, when his employment was terminated. The ground for the termination of his appointment as stated in the said letter was that his services were no longer required. He thereupon sued the respondent as defendant before the Delta State High Court, Warri, claiming the following reliefs in paragraph 15 of the statement of claim:
“(1) A declaration that the letter of termination dated 26 September 1990 issued to the plaintiff by the defendant is wrongful, void and of no effect whatsoever in that the termination was based on an allegation of crime which was never investiga…