NCAA accused of defying court order to reinstate former employee Annastasia Anukwa, RULAAC seeks Keyamo’s intervention
By Ishaya Ibrahim
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has appealed to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to intervene in the case of Mrs Annastasia Anukwa, a former employee of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Anukwa was reportedly dismissed by the NCAA on August 27, 2015, while she was on approved leave.
She subsequently sued the authority and, following prolonged litigation, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) delivered judgment in her favour on December 13, 2024, granting, among other reliefs, an order for her reinstatement.
RULAAC alleged that the NCAA has refused to implement the judgment and has instead sought leave to appeal the case, without success.
In a letter signed by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, RULAAC said documents available to it showed that enforcement processes, including Forms 48 and 49, were initiated following the NCAA’s continued failure to implement the judgment.
The organisation said Anukwa also wrote to the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation on May 6, 2026, with the letters served on May 8, drawing attention to the alleged continued non-compliance with the judgment.
“We understand that NCAA subsequently filed yet another motion for leave to appeal on 19 May 2026.
“It is important to emphasise that an application for leave to appeal is not, in itself, an appeal, nor does the mere filing of such an application automatically suspend the operation or enforceability of a subsisting judgment,” RULAAC said.
The organisation further said Anukwa informed it that, during proceedings before the Court of Appeal on June 24, 2026, the panel expressed concern over the continued non-implementation of the judgment and admonished NCAA representatives regarding her resumption.
“Following the proceedings, Mrs. Anukwa presented herself at NCAA headquarters to resume her duties. We understand that she met with the Director-General, who reportedly requested that she return when the relevant officials, including the Director of Human Resources and Director of Legal Services, would be available.
“She complains that the promised subsequent meeting and full resumption have not materialised,” the organisation said.
RULAAC said it was particularly concerned that NCAA officials claimed it was pursuing further appellate proceedings and that the judgment ordering her reinstatement had been set aside.
“If the judgment of the National Industrial Court has indeed been set aside, varied or stayed by a competent appellate court, there should be an identifiable judicial decision or order to that effect.
“Conversely, neither an application for leave to appeal nor the mere pendency of appellate proceedings, without a subsisting order of stay or other competent judicial order, amounts by itself to setting aside the judgment appealed against,” RULAAC said.
The organisation said it would be “deeply troubling” if a Federal Government agency were relying on successive applications for leave or other appellate processes to indefinitely postpone compliance with a subsisting judgment.
RULAAC therefore urged the minister to direct the NCAA to provide clarification and documentary evidence on the status of the case.
Specifically, it asked the authority to clarify:
1. The current legal status of the NICN judgment of December 13, 2024, particularly whether it remains subsisting and enforceable;
2. The precise nature and status of the proceedings currently pending before the Court of Appeal, including the relevant suit or appeal number;
3. Whether there is any subsisting order staying execution of the reinstatement judgment;
4. Whether the Court of Appeal has issued any judgment or order setting aside, varying or otherwise suspending the reinstatement order made by the National Industrial Court; and
5. If no such stay or appellate order exists, the legal basis upon which the NCAA continues to withhold Anukwa’s reinstatement and the benefits consequential upon the judgment.
“Should NCAA be unable to produce a subsisting judicial order preventing enforcement, we respectfully urge your office to direct the Authority to take immediate administrative steps to implement the judgment and bring this extraordinarily prolonged matter to a lawful conclusion,” RULAAC said.
The organisation added: “Honourable Minister, this matter has transcended an ordinary employer-employee disagreement.
“The underlying dispute dates from 2015. Mrs. Anukwa has spent more than a decade pursuing judicial redress. Having obtained a judgment ordering her reinstatement, she ought not to be prevented indefinitely from enjoying the fruits of that judgment through successive procedural applications unless a superior court has lawfully stayed, varied or overturned the judgment.
“The authority and credibility of the judiciary ultimately depend upon compliance with its decisions, particularly by public institutions.”
RULAAC said a situation in which a citizen successfully prosecutes a case for many years, obtains judgment, but remains unable to enjoy the fruits of that judgment raises concerns about access to justice, obedience to judicial authority and the rule of law.
The organisation requested that the minister ascertain the legal position regarding the matter and take appropriate steps to ensure that the NCAA acts in accordance with all subsisting judicial decisions.
“In view of the prolonged nature of this dispute and the continued hardship occasioned by the delay in implementing the judgment, we respectfully urge that this matter be accorded immediate attention and brought to a lawful and expeditious resolution,” it said.
RULAAC added that it was prepared to provide copies of the relevant documents submitted to it and engage with the ministry, NCAA and Anukwa’s counsel towards ensuring a lawful and expeditious resolution of the matter.
