Debt: Court Orders CBN To Deduct N40 Billion Ebonyi Allocation
The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to commence deduction of over N40billion from the Federation Allocation Account, for Ebonyi State Government and remittance of same to a consulting firm.
The court also directed Ebonyi State Government to pay the firm, Andrew Bishopton Nig Ltd and its partners, Mauritz Walton Nig Ltd, the sum of N118,787,380.00 and other sums over failure to adhere to the terms and conditions of the contract.
The court mandatedt CBN to withdraw the sum of US29,854,856.9 and another N30,100,000,000.00 from the state’s accounts and remit to the same company.
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It was learned that the Ebonyi State Government contracted the company in 2016 to pursue and recover monies illegally deducted on both its foreign and local loans and facilities especially the Paris club refund.
The company approached the court over the Ebonyi State Government’s unwillingness to comply with terms.
AFIMAG learned that the development led to the illegal arrest and detention of a senior staff of the consultancy organisation, Mrs Jackie Ikeotuonye, by the former.
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A copy of the ruling reads, “Upon this garnishee proceedings dated and filed on the 18th of July, 2022, and coming up for Ruling today, the 2nd day of November, 2022.
“M.N. Mohammed, SAN with K. Nkwocha, Esq. and R. Asher, Esq. of Counsel for the Judgment Creditors.
“P.N. Zephaniah, Esq. of Counsel for the 1st Garnishee Respondent.
“And the Honourable Court having delivered its Ruling in the open court today, the 2nd day of November, 2022.
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“It is hereby ordered as follows:
“An Order Absolute of this Honourable Court is hereby made DIRECTING the 2nd Garnishee (United Bank for Africa Plc) to, within 24 hours, pay the sum of One Hundred and Eighteen Million, Seven and Eighty-Seven Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty Naira) (N118,787,380.00) Only, attached from the account maintained by the Judgment Debtor, Government of Ebonyi State known as Ebonyi State Government Treasury Single Account with Account No: 1001158077 maintained with the 2nd Garnishee Bank, United Bank for Africa Plc into the designated Account Name: Mauritz Walton Nig Limited, Bank Name: Wema Bank Plc, Account No: 0122765584, to liquidate the judgment in this suit.
“An Order Absolute of this Honourable Court is hereby made DIRECTING the 1st Garnishee Bank (the Central Bank of Nigeria) to deduct at source, the sum of US29,854,856.9 (Twenty Nine Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Six Dollars, Nine Cents) Only and the sum of N30,100,000,000.00 (Thirty Billion, One Hundred Million Naira) Only , respectively from the monthly Federation Allocation Account of the Judgment Debtor, Ebonyi State Government and credit same into the designated Account of the 2nd Judgment Creditor, Mauritz Walton Nig Limited, Bank Name: Wema Bank, Bank Account: 0122765584, to liquidate the judgment sum in this suit.
“Issued at Port Harcourt, under the seal of the Court and the Hand of the Presiding Judge, this 2nd day of November, 2022.”