The National Industrial Court in Abuja has upheld the dismissal of former Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Deputy Director, Yisa Usman, ruling that the action complied fully with the board’s regulations.
In a judgment delivered on June 2, 2026, Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae dismissed Usman’s suit challenging his removal from service and awarded N250,000 in costs against him in favour of JAMB.
Usman, a former Deputy Director in JAMB’s Finance Department, was dismissed in July 2023 for gross misconduct and wilful disobedience of constituted authority.
He subsequently approached the court, alleging wrongful dismissal and denial of fair hearing.
The court, however, found that Usman was given adequate opportunity to defend himself, having responded to queries and been invited to appear before a disciplinary committee, which he declined to attend.
Justice Obaseki-Osaghae also ruled that the Minister of Education acted within statutory powers in approving the dismissal in the absence of JAMB’s Governing Board, noting that the same minister had earlier approved Usman’s promotion.
The judge further held that the dismissal was unrelated to Usman’s whistleblowing claims, stating that investigations by relevant anti-corruption agencies found his allegations against JAMB officials to be unfounded.
The court concluded that his conduct amounted to serious misconduct that undermined the confidence reposed in him by the board.
