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.
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.
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