Court quashes journalist suspension from Bayelsa Civil Service, orders 14-year salary backlog payment

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

With one month to his retirement from the Bayelsa State Civil Service, Alabo Nengi Owei-Ilagha, fondly known as Pope Pen wins a decisive victory at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

Pope Pen was involved in a long-running suit against the Bayelsa State government over his suspension and subsequent halting of his monthly emoluments.

The Nembe-born journalist and prolific author on Wednesday secures a favourable judgment ordering payment of all outstanding emoluments to the journalist and editor after 14 years of suspension and denial.

Justice B.A. Alkali of the Yenagoa Division of the Industrial Court who you gave the landmark ruling maintained that the suspension did not follow the procedures spelt out in the labour laws and therefore ordered for reinstatement of the journalist.