Embattled journalist and publisher, Mr. Dele Olojede, this morning had his troubles compounded when the National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Nigeria’s former capital, Lagos, ordered his company, Timbuktu Media, publishers of the now rested NEXT newspaper, to pay six ex-staff within four days.

Honourable Justice B. B. Kanyip gave the order while ruling on a suit brought against Timbuktu Media by Olukayode Thomas and five other ex-staff for wrongful termination of appointments and nonpayment of entitlements.

The five others are Opeyemi Nyela Olus, Ireyimika Esther Oyegbami, Ayodamola Olufunto Owoseye, Olusola Richard Babarinsa and Bolade Olusegun Oladoye.

“In his judgment, His Lordship Kanyip ordered Timbuktu Media to pay the claimants their entitlement, general damages and cost of legal action on or before April 6, 2013,” said a story on the blog News and Muse shared on Facebook by Thomas, who resigned from Timbuktu Media in April 2010 and headed to go to court in April 2011 when Olojede refused to keep several promises he had made to pay all his entitlements.

The six former staff of Timbuktu Media were represented by Olugbuyiro Akinola, Mrs. Bukola Adetunji and Miss O. A. Animashaun.

Timbuktu Media, the brainchild of Dele Olojede, debuted as an online publication 234next.com in 2008, before Next on Sunday and Next Daily hit the newsstands shortly after.

Olojede (shown in photo) claimed that the medium was set to be the voice of the people, “but a combination of factors, including bad management, unsustainable salary, reckless spending, poor marketing strategy and lack of advertisement patronage led to the publications being rested,” according to the story shared by Thomas.

Olojede, according to close associates, is working hard to return the newspaper to the newsstands, the story added.