Court warns Health Minister, one other over alleged judgment's disobedience

The National Industrial Court in Abuja has warned the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, and one other person against disobeying its December 11, 2025, judgment voiding the termination of Prof. Monday Igwe's appointment as the Medical Director, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Enugu State.

Named along with Dr. Salako, in a "notice of consequences of disobedience to the order of the court," is Dr. Unaogu Ngozichukwu Nneka (recently appointed as the Medical Director, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Enugu State).

In the notice, issued by the court's Registrar on April 14, regarding suit number: NCIN/ABJ/130/2024, the court stated it was informed that Nneka has continued to occupy the office, while Prof. Igwe has not been reinstated in utter disregard of its subsisting orders.

The document read, "Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in the order of the National Industrial Court, Abuja division, delivered on the 11th December, 2025 which declared null and void the termination of appointment of the Applicant, Prof. Monday Igwe, nullified the appointment of Dr. Unaogu Ngozichukwu Nneka as the Medical Director, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Enugu State and ordered the re-instatement of Prof. Monday Igwe as the Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Enugu State, and also, ordered the payment of the arrears of salary to Prof. Monday Igwe, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison. A copy of the said order of court earlier served on you is hereby annexed for your on-the-spot reference.

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"This court has been informed that as at today, Tuesday, 14th April, 2026 that Dr. Unaogu Ngozichukwu Nneka has continued to perform functions of the office of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Enugu State, while Prof. Monday Igwe has not been reinstated to office in utter disregard to the subsisting orders of this honourable court which execution has not been stayed."

Justice Emmanuel Subilim had, in the judgment, ordered the immediate reinstatement of Prof.  Igwe as the Medical Director of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu State, after holding that the purported termination of his appointment was unlawful, null, and void.

Justice Subilim also voided Dr. Nneka's appointment as the substantive Medical Director of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Enugu State, while the suit was pending, describing it as overreaching and unlawful.

Justice Subilim ordered Prof. Igwe's reinstatement to enable him to complete the three years and five months remaining in his tenure of office.

In holding in favour of Prof. Igwe, Justice Subilim said: "From the foregoing comprehensive analysis and having carefully weighed the evidence on the preponderance of probabilities, the court finds that the claimant has discharged the heavy burden of proof placed upon him.

"The procedure adopted for the purported termination of the claimant's appointment was arbitrary, illegal, and a fundamental breach of the mandatory statutory provisions and regulations governing his employment.

"Consequently, the termination is hereby declared void and of no effect whatsoever. I so hold."

Defendants in the suit are the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare; the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare; the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF); the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu State, and  Dr. Unaogu Ngozichukwu Nneka.