THE Supreme Court, on Monday, warned the sacked but reinstated lecturers of University of Ilorin over their demand for allowances based on the June 12, 2009 judgment of the court which voided their dismissal by the university authorities.
Counsel to the University, Yusuf Ali had filed an application seeking for interpretation and clarification of the Supreme Court judgment of 2009 stating that the lecturers had secured an order of garnishee attaching N302 million belonging to the university.
Ali further submitted that the lecturers had misinterpreted the Supreme Court judgment which reinstated them and were making unreasonable demands on the university.
The five justices of the apex court led by Justice Mahmud Mohammed expressed concern that the lecturers were making unreasonable demand including payment for sabbatical, adding that the judgment of the court was clear and it was for the payment of the lecturers’ salaries and allowances.
The apex court however advises counsel in the parties to sit together and reach a compromise.
The court further told counsel to the lectures, Toyin Oladipo to advise his clients by telling them that what they were asking for was not included in the judgment.
The court said, “Sanity should be introduced. Put your heads together. Bring sanity into the legal profession. This is indiscipline.”
One of the Justices on the panel, Justice Afolabi Fabiyi who was visibly angry said that he took part in the hearing and determination of the lecturers’ case and that the judgment did not provide for the payment for sabbatical.
He said: “Which sabbatical? Which order of this court say you should go on sabbatical? Sabbatical when you were not around for eight years. Is it moral for you to be asking for all these?