Court Reinstates Olamide Ogun Nurse Dismissed for Exposing Corruption, Awards N5m Damages

The National Industrial Court has ordered the reinstatement of Nurse Olamide Thomas, who was dismissed by the management of the Ogun State College of Health Technology, Ilese-Ijebu, after she allegedly exposed corruption within the institution.

In a landmark judgment delivered on Wednesday in Suit No NICN/LA/125/2023, Hon. Justice S. A. Yelwa declared Olamide’s termination illegal, null, and void, directing her immediate reinstatement, payment of all outstanding salaries and allowances from the date of her dismissal, and N5 million in damages.

Olamide’s ordeal began in August 2022, when a whistleblower petition alleged that some staff of the college were hoarding and selling National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) drugs meant for students to local pharmacies. Police investigations linked her to the petition, leading to her suspension, indictment by a school panel, and eventual dismissal.

Represented by her counsel, Mr. Timothy Adewale of Adewale & Adewale Legal Practitioners, Olamide challenged the dismissal at the Lagos division of the National Industrial Court.

Delivering judgment, Justice Yelwa held that Olamide’s dismissal was a direct consequence of her whistleblowing activity, describing it as unfair, unjust, and unlawful. The court emphasized that, in the absence of a statutory whistleblower protection law in Nigeria, it was compelled to rely on its mandate under the National Industrial Court Act and international labour conventions to safeguard her rights.

Recommended News:

• Abiodun Urges Fairness in Selection of New Awujale, Assures Support for Kingmakers
• KenteeJay Declares Bid for TASUED Students’ Union Presidency, Unveils “RENEWAL ’26” Agenda
• Federal Probe Begins as Abuja–Kaduna Train Derails, Injures Passengers

Speaking after the ruling, Mr. Adewale hailed the judgment as “a watershed case” in Nigeria’s legal history.

“This is the first time a Nigerian court will decisively protect a whistleblower. The court today affirmed that the time has come to shield those who expose corruption, even without a statutory law. It is a locus classicus,” he said.

According to him, Olamide’s reports had gone beyond the NHIS drug diversion, extending to issues of sexual abuse of student nurses and the theft of a federal government-donated generator—allegations the school management failed to address. Instead, she was harassed, persecuted, and victimized for speaking out.

Adewale described the ruling as proof that the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man, stressing that the court had applied the law not only with legal precedent but with the “eyes of the modern day.”

He added:

“The National Assembly has failed to pass a whistleblower protection law, but today the judiciary has filled that gap. This case will serve as a precedent and a strong warning to institutions that victimizing whistleblowers will not stand.”

The judgment is expected to ignite fresh conversations about the urgent need for a comprehensive whistleblower protection framework in Nigeria’s legal system.