One Dr Ayodeji Sasegbon has instituted a N108bn suit against TotalEnergies E & P Nigeria Limited and its parent company, TotalEnergies SE for what he called the “wrongful termination” of his appointment as a Process Engineer – Smart Room.

In suit number, NICN/LA/155/2023, Sasegbon is asking the National Industrial Court sitting in Lagos to award him a total sum of N108,720,718,580.91, (approximately $138m in July 2023) “as special, general and futuristic damages for wrongful termination of employment, loss of prospect of employment, mental and emotional and physical injury, defamation of character and character assassination.”

Recently, Justice Sanda Audu Yelwa granted Sasegbon’s motion on notice seeking an order of the court to take the evidence of the claimant/applicant virtually having travelled out of the country on medical grounds.

The motion argued by Aniekan Obong of Strachan Partners contended that “the claimant is in England where he is receiving treatment for debilitating illness and trauma occasioned by the shocking and devastating effect of the wrongful termination of his appointment by TotalEnergies.”

Lawal Kazeem of Templars, who represented the defendants, opposed the motion.

However, Justice Yelwa granted the claimant’s prayer and adjourned the case to January 28, 2025, for a hearing by Zoom.

In his statement, Sasegbon affirmed that after completing his doctoral degree at Imperial College, London, in 2014, he submitted an unsolicited application to the TEPNG Career Website on August 16, 2014, and was employed on contract in December.

The claimant stated that he received a letter of termination executed on behalf of the TEPNG by the Executive Director, Corporate Affairs & Services, Mr. Abiodun Afolabi dated July 19, 2018.

“Having not received any prior question or query and given that the letter of 19th July 2018 gave no reason for the termination of his employment, he, by a letter dated 31st July 2018, appealed to the then Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of TEPNG, Mr. Nichola Terraz for a review and reconsideration. However, by a letter dated 6th August 2018, signed on behalf of TEPNG by the Executive General Manager, Human Resources, Paul Odekina, TEPNG rejected his appeal,” the statement said, saying this informed his decision to go to court.