One Emmanuel Onuche has
dragged the Nigerian Bottling Company before the National Industrial Court in
Lagos, seeking N110m compensation for allegedly becoming blind in the course of
duty.
Onuche
claimed to have been involved in an industrial accident on May 31, 2013, in the
NBC plant in Ikeja, Lagos State, during which he sustained caustic soda burns,
rendering him completely blind in both eyes.
He alleged that the
injury was due to non-provision of safety wears by the company for its
employees.
employees.
Onuche
claimed to be working in the Quality Assurance Department of the NBC as a
contract staff member when the accident occurred.
He
alleged that since May 31, 2013, when the incident happened at the NBC plant in
Ikeja, the company had failed to pay him any compensation.
He
also accused the NBC of ignoring a letter which he wrote through a lawyer, Ali
Abba, demanding his financial compensation so he could urgently go for an eye
surgery before he became completely blind.
He
further alleged that he was sacked, while his N20,000 monthly salary was
stopped because he demanded to be given financial compensation.
According
to him, his suit before the industrial court followed a letter dated August 18,
2015, which he wrote to the Directorate of Citizens’ Rights, Lagos State
Ministry of Justice, requesting legal representation.
Joined
as defendants in the suit are the Nigerian Bottling Company Limited and
Coca-Cola Limited.
Onuche
is seeking an order, “compelling the defendants to immediately pay the claimant
the sum of N100m as insurance claims and compensation for the industrial
accident in which he sustained caustic soda burns in both eyes rendering him
blind as a result of poor safety procedures during his normal schedule as a
contract staff member in the Quality Assurance Department of the defendants.”
The
claimant is also seeking “special damages in the sum of N10m on the grounds of
trauma and pains of disabilities due to caustic soda burns in both eyes rendering
him blind as a result of poor factory safety procedures.”
The defendants have yet
to file any reply to the claimant’s suit, PUNCH reports
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