The National Industrial Court, Abuja, on Thursday, dismissed a stay-of-execution application filed by Ngozi Unaogu, medical director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, against a judgement sacking her from office.

Justice Emmanuel Subilim, in a ruling, also ordered the immediate reinstatement of Monday Igwe to complete his tenure as MD.

Mr Subilim held that the applicants failed to establish any special, exceptional, or compelling circumstances to warrant the exercise of the court’s discretion in their favour.

Ms Unaogu and her co-applicants had sought a stay of Mr Subilim’s judgement, which declared the purported termination of Mr Igwe’s appointment unlawful and void.

The judge held that evidence before the court showed the claimant still had about three years and five months remaining before the expiration of his tenure.

He further held that Mr Igwe had successfully proven his case against all the defendants in the suit marked NICN/ABJ/130/2024.

Dissatisfied with the judgement, Ms Unaogu, through a motion marked NICN/ABJ/23M/2026, asked the court to stay execution of the judgement pending the hearing and determination of her appeal.

Other applicants in the motion are the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

Others include the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF); the permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; and the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu.

The judge, in the ruling, held that Ms Unaogu’s application was “incompetent, contemptuous and a blatant attempt to run out the clock on the respondent’s reinstatement”.

“On the whole, the application for stay of execution is hereby dismissed, and a cost of N500,000 is awarded against the applicants,” Mr Subilim ordered.

Reacting to the ruling, counsel to Mr Igwe, Michael Okorie, said that with the dismissal of the application, all official actions taken by Ms Unaogu since December 11, 2025, when the original judgement was delivered, including the issuance of appointment letters and award of contracts, are null and void.

He said the dismissal of the stay of execution motion implied the judgement remained valid and enforceable.

(NAN)