The National Industrial Court, sitting in Owerri, has ordered First Bank of Nigeria to pay ₦50 million in damages to a former employee, Mr. Collins Harrison Godspower, over his wrongful blacklisting by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The court also lifted the employment ban imposed on Mr. Godspower, ruling that the action severely damaged his career and prevented him from securing another job in the banking sector. The judgment was delivered by Justice Nelson Ogbuanya.

In his ruling, Justice Ogbuanya held that First Bank acted unlawfully by forwarding Mr. Godspower’s name and biodata to the CBN as an ex-employee dismissed for fraud and dishonest practices.

The judge ruled that the action, which resulted in Mr. Godspower’s blacklisting under Section 44(4) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA), amounted to unfair labour practice and workplace defamation.

Mr. Godspower told the court that his employment was terminated on the ground that his “services were no longer required”, following an earlier suspension over allegations of misconduct, from which he was later recalled.

He said he subsequently discovered that he was unable to obtain another banking job because First Bank had published his name and photograph on its portal and forwarded his details to the CBN as an employee dismissed for fraud.

In its defence, First Bank admitted forwarding the claimant’s details to the apex bank but argued that it acted in compliance with BOFIA and a regulatory circular. The bank also contended that the court lacked jurisdiction, claiming the matter involved defamation.

Justice Ogbuanya dismissed the objection, holding that the court has jurisdiction over employment-related disputes, including workplace defamation, under the 1999 Constitution.

“From the record, I find that the subject matter of the dispute, bordering on workplace defamation and the manner of termination of employment, raises issues of unfair labour practice,” the judge said.

He further held that recalling Mr. Godspower from suspension pending investigation amounted to legal exoneration, leaving no justification for reporting him to the CBN.

The judge faulted First Bank for terminating the claimant’s employment on neutral grounds while simultaneously presenting him to regulators as someone dismissed for fraud.

“The claimant’s complaint is not just about termination of employment, but about the defendant’s act of publishing his name and photograph and sending his name to the CBN for sanction without any indictment,” Justice Ogbuanya said.

In awarding damages, the court ordered First Bank to pay ₦50 million as general damages for unfair labour practice, noting that the wrongful publication tarnished the claimant’s career, rendered him jobless, and caused emotional trauma.

“As a consequential order, the wrongful publications are hereby set aside, and the defendant is restrained from further giving effect to its career-damaging publications against the claimant,” the judge ruled.