The National Industrial Court in Asaba, Delta State, has postponed further hearings in the ongoing lawsuit filed by Eze Sunday Eze, the former Group Financial Controller of Ibeto Group and its affiliates. The next hearing is scheduled for March 18, 2025.
Justice O. Ogunbowale is overseeing the case, in which Eze is suing Ibeto Group and seven other companies for unpaid salary and the termination of his retirement benefits.
The companies named in the lawsuit include Ibeto Group, Ibeto Industries Limited, Ibeto Petrochemical Industries Limited, Ibeto Hotels Limited, Ibeto Cement Limited, Max Shipping Services Limited, Union Auto Parts Manufacturing Company Limited, and Odoh Holding Limited.
During the last hearing on February 5, 2024, legal representatives from both sides appeared before the court. R.O. Okonyia of Juri Chambers represented the claimant, while Gideon Ugwuanyi of Ikpeazu Chambers represented the defendants. The defendants’ counsel requested permission to file their documents, which was granted with no objection from the claimant’s lawyer.
Eze’s suit details his 19 years of service with the Ibeto Group, which began in 2001. He claims that after a meeting convened by the chairman, Dr. Cletus Madubugwu Ibeto, in May 2021, his salary and retirement benefits were unjustly withheld. Eze resigned due to these unresolved issues.
