THERESA NGOLIKA ORJI-ABADUA, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The Appellant, who was the Plaintiff at the lower court, in this case was initially employed by the 1st Respondent at its Refinery at Kaduna. The said Refinery at Kaduna was later incorporated as the 2nd Respondent, which is, now, a subsidiary of the 1st Respondent.
The Master/Servant relationship between them blossomed, until the 3rd December, 1999 when the 2nd Respondent terminated the Appellant's appointment by a letter dated the same 3/12/99 with Reference No. KRPC/PER/COW/73225. Following the letter terminating the Appellant's appointment, the 2nd Respondent, on 3/5/2000 paid to the Appellant his terminal benefits which it then calculated to be in the sum of ₦914,991.54 via a Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. cheque dated 3/5/2000. After receipt of the same, the Appellant wrote a letter dated 7/6/2000 pleading for reconsideration of the premature termination of his employment, but, by another Union Bank of Nigeria Pl…