Mrs. Comfort E. Bassey V. Civil Service Commission Cross River State & Ors (2010)

LawGlobal-Hub Lead Judgment Report – COURT OF APPEAL

KUMAI BAYANG AKAAHS, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment)

The Appellant, at the time of her dismissal from service, was a Chief Typist with the Cross River State Local Government Service Commission where she had been deployed to work since 5/6/2003. Before her dismissal from service via letter Ref. CRC/S/7015/Vol.1/104 of 3rd September, 2003 she had put in 15 years in the service of the Cross River State Government. The letter of dismissal dated 3rd September, 2003 admitted as Exhibit ‘E’ reads:-

GOVERNMENT OF CROSS RIVER STATE OF NIGERIA CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, NEW SECRETARIAT P.M.B. 1048, CALABAR

Our Ref: CRC/S/7015/Vol.1/104

Sept., 3, 2003

Mrs. Bassey, Comfort

(Chief Typist)

u.f.s: The Chairman

Local Government Service Commission Calabar.

DISMISSAL FROM SERVICE

I am directed to convey the Commission’s decision in the disciplinary charge preferred against you for forgery and issuance of fake appointment letters to unauthorized persons at the Unified Local Government System, Calabar. Based on the evidence before it, the Civil Service Commission has found you guilty of perpetrating fraud, which constitutes serious misconduct punishable under Civil Service Rules.

2. Accordingly, you are by this letter DISMISSED from the service of Cross River State Government with effect from 3rd September, 2003.
3. You are hereby directed to immediately handover all Government property in your possession, if any, to your Head of Department.
4. Copies of this letter are hereby forwarded to head of Civil Service the Permanent Secretary, Department of Establishments and management Service, the Accountant-General and State Auditor-General, for their information and necessary action.

Signed: Obo, Fidelis E. (KSM)

Permanent Secretary

For Chairman, Civil Service Commission.”