The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has ordered United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc to pay a total of ₦1.07 billion to former Kogi State Deputy Governor, Simon Achuba, to satisfy a long-standing judgment debt owed by the Kogi State Government.
Justice R. B. Haastrup, in a ruling delivered on November 27, made the earlier garnishee order nisi absolute after dismissing UBA’s objections regarding the nature of funds in the account targeted for enforcement.
News360 Info reports that UBA had argued that the affected account, the Kogi State ACRESAL IDA Designated Account, a dollar-denominated account, contained World Bank-supported funds meant for environmental projects across 19 northern states and therefore could not be touched.
But the court held that the bank presented no credible documentary evidence to support its claims.
Justice Haastrup ruled that once a garnishee admits holding funds sufficient to satisfy a judgment debt, it must prove any alleged restriction.
According to the judge: “The law does not permit depriving a successful litigant of the fruits of his judgment.”
Achuba, represented by human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), had asked the court to make the order absolute, noting UBA’s admission that it held sufficient funds in the Kogi account.
Breakdown of Sums Ordered
The court specifically ordered UBA to pay:
₦1,070,860,138 – outstanding judgment debt
₦2,000,000 – costs awarded by the Court of Appeal
₦1,000,000 – cost of the garnishee proceedings
All payments are to be made directly into Achuba’s Access Bank account.
Other banks earlier joined as garnishees, including Zenith Bank, First Bank, GTBank, Access Bank and Polaris Bank, were discharged.
Justice Haastrup declared: “An order absolute is made directing the 3rd garnishee (UBA Plc) to pay the sum of ₦1,070,860,138 only to the judgment creditor… The 3rd garnishee shall pay ₦2,000,000 as costs awarded by the Court of Appeal and ₦1,000,000 being cost of this garnishee proceedings.”
The ruling also marked a firm judicial rebuke of Kogi State Government’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), whose application the court described as malicious and aimed at undermining appellate court orders.
Justice Haastrup criticised Daudu’s conduct, stating: “I have observed that the same was brought malafide, as it seeks to set this court in collusion with the express orders of the Court of Appeal and Section 243(3) of the Constitution. This conduct is most unprofessional and does not portray the bar in good light.”
Consequently, the court awarded ₦1 million personally against Daudu in favour of Achuba. The judgment represents a significant milestone in Achuba’s protracted legal battle with the Kogi State Government over his controversial removal from office in 2019.
