Facts:

The appellant filed an action against the respondent for wrongful termination of employment. Pleadings were filed and amended by the parties before the plaintiff’s claims came for hearing before the High Court of Justice of Delta State at Warri. The plaintiff claimed for wrongful termination and salary from the date of his termination to 1996, moneys representing long service entitlements, payment of salary calculated from the date of his termination until his retirement or in the alternative reinstatement in the respondent’s service. Although the respondent filed a defence, it did not call any witness and rested its case on the appellant’s case.

The trial Court gave judgment in favour of the appellant granting all the reliefs sought including reinstatement into the respondent’s service. The respondent dissatisfied with the judgment appealed to the Court of Appeal. The appeal was successful with the Court of Appeal overturning the judgment of the trial court and granting the appellant N7,500 (Seven thousand Five hundred Naira) as damages for wrongful termination. The appellant, dissatisfied with the decision of the Court of Appeal appealed to the Supreme Court.