Sacked CBN Directors Seek Court Injunction to Halt Replacement Process

A group of sacked directors from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has filed a motion with the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja, requesting an injunction to prevent the bank from replacing them.

The directors, who were dismissed earlier this year, claim their terminations were unlawful and are challenging the bank’s move to fill their positions. Represented by Isa Mohammed & Associates (El-Shuayb Law Firm), the former directors argue that their sackings violated civil service rules.

In their motion filed on Monday, the directors urged the court to issue an interlocutory injunction barring the CBN from recruiting replacements for their roles while the legality of their dismissals remains unresolved.

Earlier reports had indicated that 27 senior staff members, including eight directors, were affected by a reorganization drive at the CBN under its new governor, Olayemi Cardoso. Of the 27 staff members, 17 were dismissed, while four others retired upon reaching the statutory age of 60.

Despite the pending case, the CBN recently advertised vacancies for the positions in question, prompting the directors to seek court intervention. In their application, they stressed that their dismissals were neither based on misconduct nor criminal offenses, which are typically grounds for such actions under Nigerian civil service rules.

The court is yet to decide on the application for an interlocutory injunction, while the case continues to be heard.