Former ThisDay Editor drags company to court over unpaid salaries

A former editor of the ThisDay (Saturday) newspaper, Mr Paul Ibe, has prayed the National Industrial Court to order the media outfit to pay the salaries and entitlements due to him from 2000 to 2002.

Mr. Ibe told the court in Abuja that he was owed 114,000 rands and 19,000 dollars being the cost of expenditure incurred while he was the newspaper’s correspondent in South Africa.

He said the monies were in unpaid monthly salaries/arrears, housing loan, transport allowances and unremitted tax and pension contribution.

Mr. Ibe said he was given a key for an accommodation that did not exist, adding that he had to live like a refugee while in South Africa.

He added that in spite of the state of affairs, he made and remitted some money to the company in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria ,NAN, reports that Ibe, whose appointment was terminated on July 13, 2010, wants the court to declare his sack unlawful, illegal and in bad faith.

Joined in the suit are Nduka Obaigbena and Leaders and Company, publishers of the newspaper.

Mr. Ibe’s counsel, Noble Ifeme, tendered documentary evidences and “a harmonised salary structure’’ to support the claims and the court admitted them.

Mr. Ifeme said Leaders and Company was responsible for Mr. Ibe’s transfer to South Africa to represent Thisday newspaper.

The judge, Mrs Maureen Esowe, adjourned the case to July 18 for cross examination of the claimant and further hearing.

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