The National Industrial Court sitting in Lagos has ordered Delta Marine Shipping Company to pay three crew members and seamen, Mr Akegor, Mr Lambert and Mr John, the sum of ₦24.5 million as unpaid wages for services rendered onboard its vessel.
Hon. Justice Dr. Isaac Essien of the Lagos Judicial Division of the court delivered the judgment, directing the company to pay the outstanding wages covering the period between April 2019 and June 2021 within seven days.
The court also awarded ₦1 million as cost of the action against Delta Marine Shipping Company.
The claimants had instituted the action against the company, seeking payment of outstanding salaries earned while serving as seafarers onboard the vessel, pursuant to their respective contracts of employment.
They told the court that they faithfully discharged their duties onboard the vessel but were not paid their wages for the period claimed, despite repeated demands.
The claimants also averred that they wrote letters of complaint and reminders to the Managing Director of Delta Marine Shipping Company and the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, seeking intervention over the non-payment of their wages, but the efforts did not yield any result.
Delta Marine Shipping Company, however, failed to enter appearance or file any defence to the suit.
The company also failed to cross-examine the claimants’ sole witness, prompting the court to foreclose its right to cross-examination and defence.
In his judgment, Justice Essien held that the evidence presented by the claimants, including their contracts of employment, seamen’s records, certificates of discharge, letters of complaint and schedule of outstanding salaries, remained unchallenged and uncontroverted.
The court found that the documents established the claimants’ entitlement to recover their outstanding wages from Delta Marine Shipping Company.
Justice Essien further held that the claimants had discharged the burden of proof placed on them and were entitled to judgment for the unpaid wages claimed for services rendered onboard MT. Favour from April 2019 to June 2021.
The court consequently ordered Delta Marine Shipping Company to pay the claimants ₦24.5 million as outstanding wages within seven days, together with ₦1 million as cost of the action.
