Aliko Dangote, the richest man in Africa and the 67th richest person in the world, and his cement company have been condemned by the National Industrial Court for abusing, maltreating, and oppressing their employees.
Ironically, the majority of Aliko Dangote’s wealth derives from his 86% stake in publicly traded Dangote Cement. However, despite the fact that his employees are the foundation of his success, his company, Dangote Cement, has consistently subjected them to abuse and unfair treatment.
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This is because the Presiding Judge of the Lokoja Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court, the Honorable Justice Oyebiola Oyewumi, ruled that Dangote’s act of withholding Mr. Malafa AbdulAzeez’s salaries and entitlements was illegal, abusive, and oppressive. The judge also awarded Malafa N645,780.00 (Six Hundred Forty-five Thousand, Seven Hundred and Eighty Naira Only) in damages, which is the equivalent of three months’ salary, and N100,000 as the cost of action.
The Court ruled that an employee is entitled to his wages, as depriving him of them is tantamount to depriving him of life or suffocating him.
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Justice Oyewumi ruled that Mr. Malafa’s unpaid wages and benefits are illegal, unlawful, and inexcusable and should be paid immediately.
Mr. Malafa AbdulAzeez, the claimant, stated that he was employed by Dangote Cement in 2003 and that after his employment was terminated on 13th May 2019, he went to the office to finalise the release of his salaries/entitlements but was told he would not be paid.
Mr. Malafa argued that the company’s failure to pay his wages and benefits since September 2018 (except for February 2019) is illegal, unlawful, abusive, and humiliating.
However, despite making a physical appearance, Dangote Cement did not file a response to the lawsuit.
The claimant’s attorney, Nyenke Ikpendu C.J. Esq, argued that the failure of the firm to call evidence in the matter should be interpreted as evidence that the defendant has no defence to the action, and that his client has established his entitlement to the reliefs sought by his uncontested sworn statement. He urged the court to grant the requested reliefs.
In a well-reasoned decision, the presiding judge, Justice Oyebiola Oyewumi, noted that Dangote Cement’s failure to cross-examine the claimant, despite having the opportunity to do so, constitutes tacit acceptance of the veracity of Mr. Malafa’s testimony.
Justice Oyewumi stated that the right granted to an employer under a master-servant relationship does not include the right to deny a former employee his lawfully accrued wages.
“From the foregoing, it is clear that Claimant, having worked for Defendant, is entitled to payment, that Defendant has no authority to withhold it, and that Defendant is prohibited by law from withholding his salaries and benefits without justification. A worker is entitled to his wages, and he cannot be denied them for any reason.”
In January, Aliko Dangote was ranked 97th on the list of the world’s richest people, with a net worth of $19.2 billion. In February, the Nigerian billionaire moved up the list to become the 83rd richest person in the world, leapfrogging popular Russian businessman and Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich, who is now ranked 149th on the list of the world’s 500 wealthiest individuals.
As of March 2022, Aliko Dangote was ranked as the 73rd wealthiest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of $20 billion. His net worth has surpassed $20.7 billion as a result of the April opening of his newly constructed $2.5 billion fertiliser plant and the surge in Dangote cement behemoth’s shares.
The wealth of the 64-year-old Nigerian businessman has increased by more than $1.5 billion this year, but despite the growth, employees continue to complain about poor working conditions.
