Sacked doctors: Court dismisses Lagos objection

Justice Benedict Kanyip of the National industrial Court on Thursday struck out an application by the Lagos State Government asking the court to dismiss a suit by 788 doctors sacked by the state government.
The doctors had in the suit filed by the Chairman and the General Secretary of Medical Guild, Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote and Dr. Idris Durojaiye, respectively, for themselves and on behalf of other members of the guild, prayed the court to void the identical dismissal letters purportedly issued to them by the state government.
However, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, Mr. Ade Ipaye, in a preliminary objection said the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
He, therefore, asked the NIC to strike out the suit in its entirety.
The AG also contended that the first and second plaintiffs filed the matter on behalf of the guild, which he described as an unregistered group.
But the judge affirmed that the court has the jurisdiction and that the suit is competent.
The judge held that the matter would proceed to trial andvadjourned till June 19, 2012.