Indorama Petrochemicals dismisses allegation of abandoning injured worker

Mkpoikana Udoma

Port Harcourt — Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited has dismissed the allegations of abandoning a contract worker, David Depreye, after suffering a workplace accident in December 2020.

This is as Depreye, an employee of SPEO Nigeria Limited, a service contractor to Indorama Fertilizer Limited, had falsely claimed that after suffering a workplace accident, Indorama failed to provide him with medical support to help him recover from the injuries sustained.

But reacting to the allegation, the management of Indorama said the claims by Depreye were contrary to the true position of the matter, as the company out of compassion, had offered financial compensation to the worker even he was not a direct employee of Indorama.

Head, of Corporate Communications, Indorama-Nigeria, Dr Jossy Nkwocha, said contrary to the false allegations by the worker, the company responded immediately after Depreye sustained an injury while at work on its fertiliser complex.

Nkwocha stated that out of compassion Indorama took up the medical bills of Depreye, even when he was not an employee of the company and still ensured that he is kept on the payroll until this very moment.

He said the employee had gone to court to compel his employer SPEO and Indorama to provide proper medical attention to his fractured leg and secondly to pay a total sum of N8 million as compensation plus N500,000 as legal fees.

Narrating the history of the accident, Nkwocha said, “On 23rd December 2020, Mr. Depreye, a Masher employed by SPEO Nigeria Limited and deployed to Indorama bulk loading bay, sustained injury on his two legs while at work in IFL complex. Indorama responded immediately by providing first aid medical treatment at the company’s clinic within the complex.

“He was thereafter transferred at the expense of Indorama to SPEO retainer hospital – Rehoboth Medical Service Hospital – where orthopaedic medication was administered. Because SPEO was at the time of the accident not registered with the National Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, he could not avail himself of the benefits accruable to an employee who suffered a workplace accident as provided under the Employee Compensation Act.

“Consequently, on compassionate grounds, Indorama took over the medical bills of Mr Depreye and ensured that he is kept on the payroll until this moment. In other words, his salary has been paid up to date.

“After being hospitalized for over a year at which time he went through corrective surgery on the legs at the expense of his employer SPEO and Indorama, he was eventually discharged but continued treatment on an outpatient basis.”

“This was the situation when in March 2023 Mr. Depreye filed a lawsuit at the National Industrial Court Port Harcourt requesting the Court for firstly an order compelling his employer SPEO and Indorama to provide proper medical attention to his fractured leg and secondly to pay a total sum of N8million as compensation plus N500,000 as Legal Fees.

“Upon being served with the court process, we invited Mr. Depreye and his lawyer to a meeting to resolve the matter amicably. In attendance was the Managing Director of SPEO and his lawyer. At that meeting on 19th April 2023, it was observed that there was a need to have further treatment to correct the surgery earlier conducted by Rehoboth Medical Service Hospital. The Claimant and SPEO identified the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital as the hospital where the corrective surgery will be carried out.

“It was also agreed that the Claimant, his lawyer together with SPEO’s Managing Director and his Lawyer should go to the UPTH for medical appraisal and obtain the cost implication of the final surgery.

“They reported back at a second meeting in the complex that the total cost of corrective surgery would be about N1.9 million. At this stage, Mr Depreye said he does not want surgery anymore but traditional treatment in his village and that the money for treatment and compensation should be handed over to him. He now demanded for N12million in full and final settlement of all claims against the N8 million he was requesting the court to grant him.

“Although Indorama is not the direct employee of Mr. Depreye and therefore not ordinarily liable for his treatment, Indorama nonetheless offered to pay him a million in full and final settlement of all claims, but he refused to threaten us that ‘we shall meet in court’.

“When the suit came up on 24th October 2023 his lawyer informed the court that parties were exploring out-of-court settlement and applied for an adjournment to enable the parties to conclude. The lawsuit was adjourned to 4th December 2023. On that day, the Judge informed the court of his transfer from Port Harcourt and that the case would be assigned to a new Judge.”

The management of Indorama Petrochemicals Ltd explained that it was against this background that Depreye rushed to the press to make spurious allegations and to tarnish the hard-earned reputation of the company.

“It is necessary to highlight the fact that Mr. Depreye is neither on medical leave nor currently hospitalized. The medical reports have not shown that he is unfit for work. Yet, since his discharge from hospital over a year ago, he has refused to turn up at the Indorama Complex for work while Indorama has for three years since the accident, continued to pay his salary and allowances till date.

“Notwithstanding this umbrage, Indorama, on compassionate ground has invited Mr. Depreye and his lawyer to a meeting scheduled for Monday 5th February 2024 in the continuing search for an amicable resolution.”