Enugu State Government says it will pay N80 million compensation for the illegal demolition of a property belonging to Chief Fidelis Okoro within 90 days.
The property situated at No. 11 Savage Crescent, GRA, Enugu, was demolished in 2005 on the orders of the then governor, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani.
Okoro, who was then representing Enugu North Senatorial Zone in the Senate, proceeded to court and obtained judgment against the state government for the payment of N140 million for the illegal act.
However, the matter lingered as the last administration did not honour the judgment.
The State Commissioner for Information, Dr Godwin Udeuhele said that the approval to pay the damage was given at the meeting of the State Executive Council on Wednesday.
Briefing newsmen on Thursday on the outcome of the meeting, Udeuhele said that the action of the then administration was without justification.
He said that the council made the approval to forestall further litigation as the ex-senator had threatened to approach the court for enforcement of the judgment.
“Okoro got the judgment during the past administration in the state but the state government could not honour it.
“The last administration could not pay the money and the senator had threatened to approach the court for an enforcement order.
“The state government approached and negotiated with him after which he decided to forfeit N60 million from the original amount considering the state of things in the economy,” he said.
Udeuhele said that the outstanding N80 million would be paid within 90 days of the approval and was free from Value Added Tax or any other deductions.
The commissioner said that the ex-senator needed to be commended for his patriotism in forfeiting such huge amount to the state government.
Okoro, who hails from the same senatorial zone with the current governor, was at the Senate from 1999 to 2007. (NAN)