UK-Based Nigerian Man Banned From Work Over Ebola Fears

A Nigerian UK-based security guard was shocked after returning from a 3-Weeks holiday to visit his mother in Nigeria to find he had been banned from work because his employers feared he had Ebola. Sam Ayodele Ogunnoiki, 46, who has worked for Stout Security LTD for eight years, was told by director Trevor Mannell that he had to allay colleagues' fears that he was carrying the Ebola virus back with him and could not allow him to return to work until he had been back in the UK for at least three weeks, and a British doctor certified him Ebola-free.
According to reports, Ogunnoiki received a letter from his boss which stated:

"I have spoken to you and expressed my very deep concerns about your trip to Nigeria. Several members of staff have now voiced their concerns about the possibility of your carrying the Ebola virus back with you and have made it very clear that they are extremely reluctant to work with you on your return. 

One member of staff has even written a clear and concise letter stating the concerns of your work colleagues. In this case I have to support their concerns especially as I have already voiced them personally to you. 

 In order to allay any fears that you are a carrier for this deadly virus I feel I cannot allow you to return to work until you have been back in the United Kingdom for three weeks, which is the incubation period. 

I must also request that you visit your doctor on your return and get a clean bill of health before you can start work with us. I am very sorry about this Sam but everyone works in close proximity together and I have to put the concerns of the majority first."

Mr Ogunnoiki described his employers' dramatic move as unbelievable and said he had been tested in Nigeria for the disease before leaving the country which had come back negative. He said his wife who is employed by the same company had been allowed to work despite having been in contact with him since he returned back from Nigeria, which made no sense. It's just discrimination, said Mr Ogunnoiki.

'I have worked at Stout since moving to Cornwall in 2006 when I married my wife, who is English. I went to the Port Health Authority and they told me there was no problem with visiting my mother in Nigeria so I went and came back on Saturday. 

'I then got the letter and a text from Mr Mannell saying he couldn't allow me to return to work in case I had Ebola. I was scanned for Ebola in Nigeria and everything came back fine. But my boss told me I must be in quarantine for 21 days and cannot come to work.
'Nigeria does not have Ebola but he said I have to be cleared. There is this stigma surrounding me now. 

It's just ignorance and a nightmare because I cannot work. I'm a British citizen. My wife does the same job as me and I saw her at the weekend and she has been allowed to work, but if she has been in contact with me she would have Ebola too. There is no justification for this at all.'
Mr Ogunnoiki added that it was unlikely Stout Security LTD would rehire him to work again at Pendennis Dockyard in Falmouth. He said he has now been put on a zero hours contract. 
'I doubt I'll get any more work at the security firm. 'It's a problem. I don't know what I'm going to do for work now. I don't want to go on benefits. But I doubt I'll get any more work at the security firm. It's a problem.'

Credit: Dailymail / Metro UK