*Pix above: House of Reps
The Federal House of Representatives, Abuja, has given a marching order to the Veterinary Council of Nigeria {VCN} to compensate its unlawfully sacked Director of Finance and Account, Dr Hilary Ibe, as the reason for his removal did not follow due process.
In a letter referenced NASS/CNA/35/Vol..4/ 536 addressed to the Registrar of the Council delivered at its office on 2nd July,2024 at its head office at Plot 6, Zambezi Crescent Maitama, Abuja, the Clerk of the Green Chamber urged Veterinary Council of Nigeria to urgently do as follows:
1. To reinstate and then retire Dr. Hilary-Ibe, who was a former Director of Finance and Account in the organization since he had already attended retirement age
2. To pay him all his salary arrears, benefits and entitlements to his normal retirement date.
3. To pay him any collateral damages he must have suffered as a result of their actions.
In considering the Petitioners petition, the Committee on Public Petition views with bitterness the actions of the council on the petitioner who they compulsorily retired, based on unfounded allegations.
“As if that was not enough, the council handed him over to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) where he suffered emotional trauma, and subsequently charged to court on about 18> count charge and kept on remand for several months for perfection of bail conditions. In that process, he lost his two kidneys and suffered from vision crash also. He then went for transplant in India of which the trials continued after his return in fragile health condition.
“The matter was eventually abandoned by the Council and was struck out due to lack of diligent prosecution after about 12years of continuous court appearances,” the Reps lamented.
The committee after listening to the Council’s representatives and their submissions, ruled in favour of Dr Ibe {the petitioner} and granted all his requests.
The Committee’ s report was ratified on 21st May, 2024 on the floor of the House by the members who directed the House Clerk to communicate the resolution to the Agency.
The letter to the Council was also copied to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation {SGF} for the attention of Mr. President.###
