A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday ordered the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele to appear before it on January 18, 2023 for refusal to obey its valid order for the payment of $70M debt.
The Court presided over by Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo, issued the fresh order following confirmation that Emefiele refused to obey the order of the court to pay the judgment debt.
Mr. Joe Odey Agi SAN, had obtained judgment summon against the CBN Governor following his persistent refusal to carry out the order of court on the judgment debt.
The Court was told that rather than honour the judgment summon served on him through a newspaper publication, the CBN Governor through his lawyer, Mr Damian Dodo SAN, applied for the summon be set aside.
Dodo’s argument was hinged on the premise that an appeal has been instituted against the court order for the judgment summon.
However, Counsel to the applicant, Mr Joseph Njikonye SAN, objected to the CBN Governor’s motion on the ground that the order for the payment has not been effected.
Njikonye further argued that the CBN Governor is in contempt of court and must be made to purge himself before the court could grant him audience.
Ruling on the matter, Justice Ekwo said that Emefiele must come to equity in clean hands by obeying a subsisting order of court on the judgment debt payment or honour judgment summon issued against him to offer reasons for disobeying the order validly granted by the Court.
The Court therefore fixed January 18, 2023 for the CBN governor to physically appear in person as required by law.
The 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.
