The Ebonyi State government has entered a very hot pot of soup over an alleged breach of contract.
This is following the absolute ruling by the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt which ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to deduct over N40 billion from the State’s Federation Allocation Account and remit same to a consulting firm, Adrew Bishopton Nig Ltd. and its partners, Maurits Walton Nig Ltd.
We gathered that the state government under the administration of Dave Umahi had entered into an agreement with the consulting firm in 2016 to pursue and recover monies illegally deducted on both its foreign and local loans and facilities especially the Paris Club refund.
However, the state had failed to keep up to the terms of the agreement.
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The court also convicted the state for illegal and unfair treatment of a senior staff of the consulting firm.
The court presided by Justice Dalyop Pam, therefore, in its order absolute, ruled that the state pay the sum of N40 billion and other monies to the consulting firm.
A copy of the ruling, dated November 2, 2022, which was obtained by our correspondent, on Monday, read, “Upon this garnishee proceedings dated and filed on the 18th of July, 2022, and coming up for Ruling today, the 2nd day of November, 2022.
“Whereas all the parties are absent.
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“M.N. Mohammed, SAN with K. Nkwocha, Esq. and R. Asher, Esq. of Counsel for the Judgment Creditors.
“P.N. Zephaniah, Esq. of Counsel for the 1st Garnishee Respondent.
“And the Honourable Court having delivered its Ruling in the open court today, the 2nd day of November, 2022.
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“It is hereby ordered as follows:
“An Order Absolute of this Honourable Court is hereby made DIRECTING the 2nd Garnishee (United Bank for Africa Plc) to, within 24 hours, pay the sum of One Hundred and Eighteen Million, Seven and Eighty-Seven Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty Naira) (N118,787,380.00) Only, attached from the account maintained by the Judgment Debtor, Government of Ebonyi State known as Ebonyi State Government Treasury Single Account with Account No: 1001158077 maintained with the 2nd Garnishee Bank, United Bank for Africa Plc into the designated Account Name: Mauritz Walton Nig Limited, Bank Name: Wema Bank Plc, Account No: 0122765584, to liquidate the judgment in this suit.
“An Order Absolute of this Honourable Court is hereby made DIRECTING the 1st Garnishee Bank (the Central Bank of Nigeria) to deduct at source, the sum of US29,854,856.9 (Twenty Nine Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Six Dollars, Nine Cents) Only and the sum of N30,100,000,000.00 (Thirty Billion, One Hundred Million Naira) Only , respectively from the monthly Federation Allocation Account of the Judgment Debtor, Ebonyi State Government and credit same into the designated Account of the 2nd Judgment Creditor, Mauritz Walton Nig Limited, Bank Name: Wema Bank, Bank Account: 0122765584, to liquidate the judgment sum in this suit.
“Issued at Port Harcourt, under the seal of the Court and the Hand of the Presiding Judge, this 2nd day of November, 2022.”