A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele to appear before it to explain his refusal to obey an order for payment of $70M debt.
Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the fresh order following confirmation that Emefiele had refused to obey a previous order of the court to pay the judgment debt.
The court in a judgement obtained by
a Senior Advocate of Nigeria Joe Agi, the court granted an order against the CBN governor following his persistent refusal to carry out the order of court on the judgment debt.
But instead of honouring the judgment summon served on him through a newspaper publication, Emefiele’s counsel, Damian Dodo applied that the summon be set aside on ground that an appeal has been entered.
Counsel for the applicant, Joseph Njikonye in objection to Emefiele’s motion insisted the CBN Governor is in contempt of court and must be made to purge himself before the court could give him audience.
Justice Ekwo in a ruling again ordered Emefiele to obey subsisting order of court on the judgment debt payment or honour judgment summon issued against him to offer reasons for disobeying court order.
The Judge subsequently fixed January 18 2023 for the CBN governor to physically and personally appear before the court as required by law.
The Federal High Court had ordered the CBN through Garnishee Nisi absolute to pay the senior lawyer the $70M being legal fees for services rendered to some states and the 774 Local Government Areas in the country.
( Editor: Omor Bazuaye)
