S’court says aggrieved persons can appeal decisions of industrial court

The supreme court says aggrieved people can appeal decisions of the national industrial court.

The ruling which was delivered by a five-man panel of justices on Friday was sequel to a suit filed Skye Bank Nigeria Plc against one Anaemem Iwu.

Premium Times reports the panel said the appeal court had powers to entertain matters from the industrial court, whether they were fundamental rights suits or not.

Before the ruling, only decisions that emanated from fundamental right appeals could go to a higher court.

Skye Bank had asked the supreme court to determine whether there were exceptions to the powers of the appeal court to entertain decisions of the lower court.

At the court on Friday, Centus Nweze, the presiding judge, stressed that the ruling would be transmitted to Lagos division of the court of appeal fo guidance.

“The lower court, that is, the court of appeal, has the jurisdiction, to the exclusion of any other court in Nigeria, to hear and determine all appeals arising from the decisions of the trial court,” Nweze held.

“No constitutional provision expressly divested the said Court of Appeal of its appellate jurisdiction over all decisions on civil matters emanating from the trial court.

“And, as a corollary, the jurisdiction of the court to hear and determine all civil appeal on decisions of the National Industrial Court is not limited to only fundamental human rights.

“These shall be the opinions of this court and shall be transmitted to the Lagos division of the court of appeal for its guidance in determining the appeal before it.”