An Equality Tribunal has awarded N3m in damages to a Nigerian woman based in Ireland who says she was the only employee questioned by her employer; BT Ireland after a manager’s signature was forged on a software release document.
In Jul 2009 Sola Fajembola, a software engineer, was summoned by her manager and told a colleague claimed she was responsible for the false signature. She was asked to attend a fact-finding meeting immediately.
Fajembola said she was immediately put on a precautionary suspension and was walked off the premises.
A few weeks later, she attended a disciplinary hearing, with the allegation that she had falsified the signature. Again she requested that others be investigated and that the Police are involved.
However, the Equality Tribunal, BT Ireland, in its finding in relation to the falsification of documents, “did not uphold this allegation against the complainant and stated that it would not proceed with the investigation as staff was not very clear about procedures”.
BT Ireland said the complainant had misrepresented the disciplinary proceedings against her and omitted details of a further allegation against her. It said its decision to initiate an investigation into these two separate allegations was justified and unrelated to her race.