Enyinna Omoke, Abakaliki
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in Abuja, has ordered the immediate reinstatement of Prof. Monday Igwe as the Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, nullifying the appointment of Dr. Ngozi Unaogu as the substantive head of the institution.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Subilim, the court held that the termination of Prof. Igwe’s appointment was unlawful and directed that he be returned to office to complete his tenure. The court also ordered the payment of his salaries and entitlements from the time of his suspension in September 2023 until December 2025, as well as ₦3 million in damages for the trauma he suffered following his removal from office.
Prof. Igwe was suspended by the Federal Ministry of Health in September 2023 over allegations of misconduct. A seven-member investigative panel constituted by the ministry later cleared him of all allegations and recommended his reinstatement as Medical Director.
However, rather than implement the panel’s recommendations, the ministry terminated his appointment. The decision prompted Prof. Igwe to petition the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, which, after reviewing the matter, reportedly faulted the actions of the ministry. The committee reprimanded officials of the ministry, including the Permanent Secretary, for allegedly misleading the President into approving the termination and subsequently recommended Prof. Igwe’s reinstatement.
Following the ministry’s failure to comply with the committee’s recommendation, Prof. Igwe approached the National Industrial Court seeking judicial redress.
Delivering judgment, Justice Subilim ruled that the Minister of State for Health acted arbitrarily and contrary to established disciplinary procedures by disregarding the findings of the investigative panel and terminating Prof. Igwe’s appointment without due process. The court consequently ordered his immediate reinstatement.
In a related development, the National Industrial Court has dismissed an application for stay of execution filed by Dr. Ngozi Unaogu against the judgment ordering her removal from office and the reinstatement of Prof. Igwe.
Speaking after the ruling, counsel to Prof. Igwe, Barr. Michael Okorie, said the dismissal of the application means the court’s judgment remains valid, operative and enforceable pending the determination of any appeal.
Okorie argued that, in view of the court’s decision, official actions allegedly taken by Dr. Unaogu, including the issuance of appointment letters and the award of contracts after the judgment delivered on December 11, 2025, could be subject to legal challenge. He advised members of the public to exercise caution in dealings relating to such actions until the legal issues are fully resolved.
He also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to comply with the court’s judgment, saying prompt implementation would demonstrate respect for the rule of law and ensure stability in the administration of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu.
