By GIFT GABRIEL
LAGOS—Disengaged workers of Sterling Group, who were laid off recently, have raised alarm over threats to their lives by unknown persons, which they said emanated from their stand against the company’s decision to deny them their full benefits as specified under the law.

In a petition to the Inspector General of Police by one of the laid-off employees of the group, Mr. Sadiq Onasanya, he lamented how he was sacked on the basis of racism following a face-off with one Leon Pinto, an in-law to the Chief Executive Office of Sterling Group, Mr. Deepak Barot, on October 22, 2011, while working as a procurement officer for British Oil and Gas, a subsidiary of Sterling Group, in Kwale, Delta State.

Although the labour organisation in the oil and gas sector allegedly waded into the matter, the company had refused to grant its sacked workers, including Onasanya, their due entitlement.

Onasanya claimed he got from unknown persons, phone calls threatening him and other members of his family.

No fewer than 100 workers had a widely-reported showdown with the management of the company due to what the workers described as unjust and illegal termination of appointments. After the face-off, some of the workers were recalled, others were not.

An official of the Human Resources Department of the company refused to speak, claiming he knew nothing about the issue.