The Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele to appear in court January 18, 2023 to explain his refusal to obey a valid court order.
Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the fresh order following confirmation that Emefiele had yet to obey the order of the court to pay the judgment debt of $70 million to Mr Joe Agi, SAN.
The money is payment for legal fees for services rendered to some states and the 774 Local government areas in the country.
Agi had obtained the judgment against the CBN Governor following his alleged refusal to carry out the order of court on the judgment debt.
The CBN Governor, however, through his counsel, Mr Damian Dodo, (SAN) applied that the judgment summon be set aside on the grounds that an appeal had been instituted against the judgment.
Mr Joseph Njikonye (SAN), counsel to Agi, objected to Emefiele’s motion on the grounds that the order for the payment had not been effected.
Njikonye argued that the CBN Governor was in contempt of court and must be made to purge himself before the court could give him audience.
In a brief ruling, Justice Ekwo agreed that Emefiele must come to equity with clean hands.
The judge said this was by obeying the subsisting order of court on the judgment debt payment or honour judgment summon issued against him to offer reasons for disobeying a court order.
Justice Ekwo fixed January 18, 2023 for the CBN Governor to appear in court as required by law.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the Federal High Court had ordered the CBN, through garnishee nisi absolute to pay the senior lawyer the $70million being legal fees for services rendered to some states and the 774 local government areas in the country.
NAN also reports that garnishee order nisi directs the garnishee to appear in court on a specified date to show cause why an order should not be made upon him for the payment to the judgment creditor of the amount of debt owed by the judgment debtor.
A garnishee is a third party who is instructed by way of legal notice to surrender money to settle a debt or claim. NAN
