Tesco fire "King"

Cookie_Monster

LOL, they do actually exist

I should get in touch with him and give him all my bank details for future settlements he'll need to make for sure

A Nigerian king-in-waiting who was fired after he overstayed a Tesco time-off deal for regal duties in his home village has been awarded €10,000 compensation for unfair dismissal.

An Employment Appeals Tribunal found that Tesco had failed to "adhere to any of the procedures" when it dismissed Edward Agbaje, of The Sycamores, Edenderry, Co Offaly.

Mr Agbaje, who said he is now a taxi driver taking home €31 a week after expenses, had started work with Tesco in May 2006. Speaking at his home in Co Offaly yesterday, Mr Agbaje expressed disappointment at the level of the tribunal settlement.

As he comes from royal lineage, Mr Agbaje had been required to carry out ceremonies in his native village in preparation for his ascendancy to the throne.

In April 2008, he booked four weeks' holidays to return to Nigeria as he had been selected to be the future king of his village. However, he was unable to return for six weeks due to the processes involved in his village regarding his kingship.

He told the tribunal that when he returned to work he explained the position to the company and said his kingship would possibly mean he had to return to the village at a later date. "The process in his local village in Nigeria has to do with tradition and he had to fall in line with that process. Because of this he was not in control of his return date," the tribunal was told. Mr Agbaje's explanation was accepted by the company and he did not receive any warning and no disciplinary action was taken against him.

Unpaid

Seven months later he had to return to his village. He claimed he had been granted two weeks off from November 10 for the trip but the company said he was only given a week's unpaid leave. He had phoned Tesco from Nigeria to say he would be delayed and did not return until December 1.

He told the tribunal he had not received a November 10 letter telling him he only had a week off, a November 17 letter seeking an explanation for his absence and a November 24 letter saying his employment was at an end due to his failure to explain his absence.

In its determination yesterday, the tribunal said the company's failures included not providing Mr Agbaje with a representative during the disciplinary hearing. In finding he was unfairly dismissed the tribunal said there was "an element of contribution" on the part of Mr Agbaje.

- Eoghan MacConnell

Irish Independent

King of a village who worked in Tesco.. Now he's a taxi driver.

This actually got time in irish courts? Why should he get time of work cause he made up a fancy title for 'councillor'.

Danbo!

Mr Agbaje, who said he is now a taxi driver taking home €31 a week after expenses

WTF is €31 after expenses?? So he's got thirty odd quid left after he does his shopping, pays his bills, buys food etc? So ****ing what?

If I asked for 6 weeks off work, followed by more time off later that year, I'd be shown the door.

I cant believe the courts sided with this guy after returning from holidays 2 weeks late, and then expected to get more annual leave in the same year.

Minstrel27

Stories like this madden me. He was unhappy with the level of compensation. He should **** off back to his kingdom if he is unhappy.

If anyone else did this they would be sacked and rightfully too.

bonerm

Deleted User wrote: »

King of a village who worked in Tesco.. Now he's a taxi driver.

Really? I heard he was working in the fast food industry.

Poor Uncle Tom

Must be the reason why I'm king of my castle
Must be the reason why I'm freeing my trapped soul
Must be the reason why I'm king of my castle
Must be a reason why I'm making examples of you

repeat as necessary.......

bonerm

bonerm wrote: »

Really? I heard he was working in the fast food industry.

I see what you did there :pac:

Gone Drinking

He should use the 10 grand to open a Tesco in his village

Xavi6

Minstrel27 wrote: »

Stories like this madden me. He was unhappy with the level of compensation. He should **** off back to his kingdom if he is unhappy.

If anyone else did this they would be sacked and rightfully too.

That's no way to speak about royalty tbh

walshb

Maybe he really is a King; don't we remember Akeem from Coming To America, or was he a goat herder? Either way, he did work in fast food.

Wazdakka

About bloody time..

I think I've been emailing this guy for a few weeks..
He told me he was a Nigerian King but was having trouble getting his money out of the country..
For a small good will payment along with supplying him my bank account details and sort code he promised me millions of monies.

I'll be rich..

bonerm

Wazdakka wrote: »

About bloody time..

I think I've been emailing this guy for a few weeks..
He told me he was a Nigerian King but was having trouble getting his money out of the country..
For a small good will payment along with supplying him my bank account details and sort code he promised me millions of monies.

I'll be rich..

Yes but have you done the currency conversion, sah? Million of monies over there is really just 18 pooend and 57 pance in western currency. I hope you haven't given your valuable bonc details yet sah?

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

King of a village who worked in Tesco.. .

How many villages are there in Nigeria?

I don't know but it means that there are a lot of f**king kings out there expecting to be treated like royalty.

He should go to work in burger king!

arybvtcw0eolkf

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

Must be the reason why I'm king of my castle
Must be the reason why I'm freeing my trapped soul
Must be the reason why I'm king of my castle
Must be a reason why I'm making examples of you

repeat as necessary.......

Sorry we can't, his highness will be looking for royalties :pac:

Buford T Justice

Typical. Irelands irrational fear of being called a racist has emerged again


When the court was awarding the settlement they should have started the statement with 'Now I'm not a racist, but.....'

cosmic

So he was telling the truth all along?! Jeez, now I feel bad about not replying to any of his emails

Barname

How has it come about that this man is living/working in Ireland?

anyone know?

CrazyRabbit

I'm suprised that Ireland allows foreign kings to work in Ireland.

And unless this guys status as King is internationally recognised, I don't see why Tesco's should be obliged to give him any unpaid leave.

Oh, and if the guy is earning less money as a taxi driver than he was when working for Tesco, he must be a really terrible taxi driver.

Sofa King Great

As a foreign dignitary shouldn't he be staying in Farmleigh House?

Barname

Sofa King Great wrote: »

As a foreign dignitary shouldn't he be staying in Farmleigh House?

can you imagine how many overweight white skangers he could bed then!

walshb

Barname wrote: »

can you imagine how many overweight white skangers he could bed then!

Ah, good old white trash.....:)

K-9

Barname wrote: »

How has it come about that this man is living/working in Ireland?

anyone know?

Fingers McGee wrote:

Typical. Irelands irrational fear of being called a racist has emerged again


When the court was awarding the settlement they should have started the statement with 'Now I'm not a racist, but.....'

Well I'd hope the Employment Appeals Tribunal would have checked that all was in order. Considering he started in 2006, there would have been plenty of employment around.

Its a stupid case and it wouldn't be the first stupid decision the Tribunal reached, so race would be a side issue, the main issue being the stupidity of the Tribunal.

However he is perfectly entitled to avail of the various workers rights mechanisms in the State, of which this is one. Otherwise we'd be without a layer of protection for immigrant workers rights.

Kivaro

K-9 wrote: »

However he is perfectly entitled to avail of the various workers rights mechanisms in the State, of which this is one. Otherwise we'd be without a layer of protection for immigrant workers rights.

I'm an immigrant. Wonder if I can use this story over here in the States. I can claim to be a future High King of Ireland, and if they don't give me 6 weeks holidays in one year, then I will go for the 10,000 windfall.

Can imagine the look on the faces of the Yanks when I demand my compensation.

K-9

Kivaro wrote: »

I'm an immigrant. Wonder if I can use this story over here in the States. I can claim to be a future High King of Ireland, and if they don't give me 6 weeks holidays in one year, then I will go for the 10,000 windfall.

Can imagine the look on the faces of the Yanks when I demand my compensation.

Still, that really isn't the point. Tesco didn't follow the correct procedures, immigrant or not, it doesn't matter!

Xluna

His kingdom probably consisted of an apple tree and a dog with rabies. Stupid decision and a waste of money. The floodgates are now open for a thousand Princes of five acres of dog dung to sue left right and centre.

Run_to_da_hills

The guy was probably eating a packet of crisps at the tribunal.

Kivaro

K-9 wrote: »

Still, that really isn't the point. Tesco didn't follow the correct procedures, immigrant or not, it doesn't matter!

Ah, I'll just say that I didn't get any of their letters. Why wouldn't they believe me: I am a (future) KING.

msg11

King vs Giant.

He got the boot because there is only room for one King in Tesco, ME!

jelly&icecream

It seems that Tesco didn't go through the correct procedure for sacking him, which for a company as big as them is a pretty stupid thing to have done.

He definitely deserved to be sacked though.

Jeanious

Jesus this country is gettin worse by the day....while i admit i do like the sheer ridiculousness of this story, id love to know on what grounds he was over here? I thought to be an asylum seeker, ya have to be in mortal danger in your home country? Clearly this isnt the case.

Thats about all i can manage at the moment, words simply fail me!

K-9

Kivaro wrote: »

Ah, I'll just say that I didn't get any of their letters. Why wouldn't they believe me: I am a (future) KING.

You'd think he would have loved the King crisps.

sky88

that is a great story a king who works in tesco redicolous

28064212

coyle wrote: »

I thought to be an asylum seeker, ya have to be in mortal danger in your home country? Clearly this isnt the case.

While not specified in the story, it would seem clear that he is an immigrant, but not an asylum seeker. Also, it's completely irrelevant to the story. Whether he went home to Nigeria for the time periods specified, or went to Donegal, Tesco didn't follow the dismissal procedures required

Absurdum

phew....I thought Tesco got rid of King crips there for a minute

Alessandra

If I showed up for work 2 weeks late I'd be sacked as well.

How can he be "king" if he's not residing in the village anymore? Did he provide proof that he was doing his "regal duties" in the 6 weeks he had off?
This was something that would probably require him to have regular time off work and I don't think too many employers would be sympathetic to him.

OctavarIan

So neither Tesco or the king-in-waiting could produce copies of any of the letters? What a total fail.

"Sir we sent you several letters to inform you of the length of your stay."
"Em, uhh, no you didn't...?"
"We did, we filed copies right here... oh wait, um, we totally did send them!"
"You did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"

Farce.

Kivaro

28064212 wrote: »

While not specified in the story, it would seem clear that he is an immigrant, but not an asylum seeker.

Ok, I'll bite, how is it clear that he is an immigrant. And how does that work i.e. getting immigrant status from a country like Nigeria? As far as I know, I do not think he is a doctor.

The question in a lot of people's minds and thankfully it is a question that we can now ask without fear of the usual labels: If he was in such fear for his life in Nigeria that he claimed asylum or refugee status in Ireland, how come he goes back to an area where he is well known?

ejmaztec

28064212 wrote: »

While not specified in the story, it would seem clear that he is an immigrant, but not an asylum seeker. Also, it's completely irrelevant to the story. Whether he went home to Nigeria for the time periods specified, or went to Donegal, Tesco didn't follow the dismissal procedures required

Perhaps he arrived on a state visit lasting 25 years, and his silver carriage and team of 6 white horses turned into a cab at the stroke of midnight after Tesco told him to feck off.

.SONIC.

im gonna find him, give him my account details and then get all his billions that are stuck in an african bank!!

i wonder did he try to bribe the judge with said proposition

Millicent

Kivaro wrote: »

Ok, I'll bite, how is it clear that he is an immigrant. And how does that work i.e. getting immigrant status from a country like Nigeria? As far as I know, I do not think he is a doctor.

The question in a lot of people's minds and thankfully it is a question that we can now ask without fear of the usual labels: If he was in such fear for his life in Nigeria that he claimed asylum or refugee status in Ireland, how come he goes back to an area where he is well known?

What, exactly, has that got to do with this thread? His immigration status isn't the point (and obviously, he was cleared to be here if a major employer like Tesco employed him).

In its determination yesterday, the tribunal said the company's failures included not providing Mr Agbaje with a representative during the disciplinary hearing.

Tesco circumvented the law and got themselves a slap on the wrist. Whether he is a refugee or not has nothing to do with it.

Puck

I thought this might be about Elvis.

28064212

Kivaro wrote: »

Ok, I'll bite, how is it clear that he is an immigrant. And how does that work i.e. getting immigrant status from a country like Nigeria? As far as I know, I do not think he is a doctor.

The question in a lot of people's minds and thankfully it is a question that we can now ask without fear of the usual labels: If he was in such fear for his life in Nigeria that he claimed asylum or refugee status in Ireland, how come he goes back to an area where he is well known?

I'm guessing you didn't read the second sentence of my post, where I pointed out that it has no relevance to the story? Anyway...:

You realise that there aren't special rules for "a country like Nigeria"? Getting "immigrant status" is much the same as getting it when moving here from the US. You don't have to be a doctor to move to Ireland. Or even have 3rd level education.

And why would that be the question in a lot of people's minds? It's nothing to do with the story, nowhere is it mentioned that he was in fear of his life, and nowhere does it say he sought asylum

Kivaro

28064212 wrote: »

I'm guessing you didn't read the second sentence of my post, where I pointed out that it has no relevance to the story? Anyway...:

There is relevance but you obviously cannot see it.

28064212 wrote: »

You realise that there aren't special rules for "a country like Nigeria"?

I did not realize that Nigeria was part of the EU and their citizens could immigrate here legally. My mistake.
If a person wanted to move and work in Ireland from the US, a visa is required.

twowheelsonly

28064212 wrote: »

While not specified in the story, it would seem clear that he is an immigrant, but not an asylum seeker. Also, it's completely irrelevant to the story. Whether he went home to Nigeria for the time periods specified, or went to Donegal, Tesco didn't follow the dismissal procedures required

And I'm sure that he didn't follow best work practice either.
If you jump off a high building you can expest to get hurt.
If you don't turn up for work because you decide to extend your holidays off your own bat then you can expect to lose your job. Simple.

This Procedure and Red Tape is gone way over the top. Why should Tesco (or any other employer) have to go chasing him because he does his own thing? People have to take responsibility themselves and expect to lose their job if they behave in this manner.

ScumLord

Just the thought of a Nigerian king standing before his people giving his first speech as king in a thick Offaly accent has me in stitches.

donkey balls

Kivaro wrote: »

There is relevance but you obviously cannot see it.



I did not realize that Nigeria was part of the EU and their citizens could immigrate here legally. My mistake.
If a person wanted to move and work in Ireland from the US, a visa is required.

in order for a person from a non eu country looking to reside in ireland they must apply for a work visa these visas are normally for skilled workers
where we have a shortage of people doing that particular job.
austrialia have something similar called a skilled migration visa(were the aplicant has to prove the skills&experience they have match what the oz govt is looking for)

however a person coming from a non eu country who does not have qualifications to meet the visa application could get sponsor ship from a company even if there skill set is not regonised in order to gain a work visa through the normal channels.
this would require the company sponsoring the applicant,they would have to advertise the job in a local paper/website and prove to the dept trade&enterprise that there is no eu citizen who is eligable to work here to fill the job.
only then would they issue a work visa which costs the employer 500e a year.
and on another piont i had two nigerians working in my company who fled nigeria(due to persecution) yet every year they fecked off home for three weeks holiers(and allways took an extra week saying that they missed there flight:rolleyes:).

Cookie_Monster

donkey balls wrote: »

and on another piont i had two nigerians working in my company who fled nigeria(due to persecution) yet every year they fecked off home for three weeks holiers(and allways took an extra week saying that they missed there flight:rolleyes:).

chancer scumbags

K-9

Kivaro wrote: »

Ok, I'll bite, how is it clear that he is an immigrant. And how does that work i.e. getting immigrant status from a country like Nigeria? As far as I know, I do not think he is a doctor.

The question in a lot of people's minds and thankfully it is a question that we can now ask without fear of the usual labels: If he was in such fear for his life in Nigeria that he claimed asylum or refugee status in Ireland, how come he goes back to an area where he is well known?

If he is was an asylum seeker, he shouldn't be working. Tesco have a lot more to worry about. They should be fined for employing illegal immigrants.

Personally, that would make me assume he was here legally and so wasn't claiming refugee status, so I think your question is not needed in this case.

Still, it is a stupid finding, but it wouldn't be the first from the tribunal. It's crazy they said he shared some responsibility and he still wins.

Millicent

K-9 wrote: »

If he is was an asylum seeker, he shouldn't be working. Tesco have a lot more to worry about. They should be fined for employing illegal immigrants.

Personally, that would make me assume he was here legally and so wasn't claiming refugee status, so I think your question is not needed in this case.

Still, it is a stupid finding, but it wouldn't be the first from the tribunal. It's crazy they said he shared some responsibility and he still wins.

Agree with everything you said. The reason Tesco was given a fine though was for failing to offer him representation at his disciplinary meeting. It's bully boy tactics. Bad as his behaviour was, he's entitled to a union rep.

Kivaro

K-9 wrote: »

If he is was an asylum seeker, he shouldn't be working. Tesco have a lot more to worry about. They should be fined for employing illegal immigrants.

It's all this terminology that is confusing. If a person is an asylum seeker and gains refugee status, are they not then an immigrant and entitled to work? Or removing the work 'immigrant', isn't a refugee allowed to work?

I'm trying to figure out how it was clear he was an immigrant from an earlier post.

Millicent

Kivaro wrote: »

It's all this terminology that is confusing. If a person is an asylum seeker and gains refugee status, are they not then an immigrant and entitled to work? Or removing the work 'immigrant', isn't a refugee allowed to work?

I'm trying to figure out how it was clear he was an immigrant from an earlier post.

Does it matter?