Godwin Emefiele, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria is liable to go to jail over failure to honour garnishee order to pay Mr. Joe Agi (SAN) and his legal team the sum of $53m which represented the Federal government in the Paris club fund case
Justice I.E Ekwo in his ruling on November 25, 2019 issued the judgement summon to the CBN Governor.
The case with suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/1193/2017 was filed against Zainab Ahmed Minister of Finance, Linas International Limited as Judgement Debtor Garnishees, CBN as Garnishee/ Respondent and Joe Agi as Creditor Applicant on behalf of his team of lawyers.
The Federal Government gave its approval for the payment of $70m to the team of lawyers who represented the government in the Paris club fund case.
However, CBN Governor Emefiele had despised the court by failing to obey the ruling. He paid less than the approved amount to the legal team, leaving over $53million unpaid.
According to the judgment summon, “the plaintiff/judgment creditor obtained Garnishee Order Absolute against the Central Bank of Nigeria in this matter on the 5th day of July 2019, for the sum of $70,000,000.00 (Seventy million US dollars) and the same sum remains partially unsatisfied till date to the tune of $53m.”
“The Judgment Creditor has filed an affidavit in this Court, a copy whereof in hereunto annexed, wherein it is alleged that you the above-named Godwin Emefiele are liable (as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Garnishee) to pay the sum payable under the said Garnishee Order Absolute”
“You are therefore hereby summoned to appear personally in this Court, at the Federal High Court No. 5, Maitama, Abuja, FCT; on the 23rd day of January 2020 or a subsequent date of which you would be given notice at the hour of 9 O’ clock in the forenoon, to be examined on oath touching the means you have or have had since the date of the said Garnishee Order Absolute to pay the balance of $53,000,000.00 (Fifty Three Million US Dollars) now due and payable under the said Garnishee Order Absolute and also to show cause why you should not be committed to prison for default of the said sum.”
“Take notice that if you deny that you are liable [as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria] to pay or direct payment of the sum payable under the said Garnishee Order Absolute you must appear at this Court on the day and at the hour above-mentioned. And that in default of your so appearing, you will be deemed to admit you are liable to pay the amount due and payable under the said Garnishee Order Absolute”.
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It is to be recalled that Otunba Runsewe, Director General of National Council of Arts and Culture was sentenced to prison over contempt of court.
Godwin Emefiele may suffer the same fate.