An appeal court sitting in Akure has upheld the judgment of the industrial court that reinstated 15 out of the 32 sacked workers of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.

The workers were relieved of their job in January 2013, on what the management of the institution termed "reconstruction of the polytechnic".

The lower court, which was presided by Justice Anthonia Ubaka, returned 15 of them on July 2014, on the ground that they were able to provide the court with necessary documents which showed they were senior staff of the polytechnic.

Ubaka said she could not return the remaining 17 because they were unable to convince the court about their status in the school.

However, the Management of the polytechnic, through their lawyer, Dr. Olumide Ayeni, approached the appeal court on four grounds: a complaint by the management of the polytechnic of not being satisfactorily served the copy of the judgment of the industrial court within seven days; the failure of the industrial court to read the entire judgment; violation of its human rights that gave the polytechnic the right on who to associate with and that the lower court granted the workers what they did not request for.

 The appeal court Judge J. S. Abiriyi, however, struck out the applications of the appellant.

The judge said he was not expecting the case to be dragged to the appeal since there was no violation of human rights.

He admitted that the 15 workers were wrongfully sacked, thereby ordering the management to pay the outstanding salaries and allowances of the reinstated workers.

The reinstated workers are: Abodunrin Moses, Adeoni Olusegun, Agbi Nelson, Arijeniwa Adedotun, Ayodeji Akinsanmi, Mrs. V.O. Ayodele, S.B. Bolaji, Ekundayo Gbenga and A.M. Elegbede.

Others are Olubamiji Kumuyi, Ogunbode Benson, T.L. Olemija, Olugbamila Omotayo, Omotola Alaba Olumayowa and S.O. Oniyelu.