Plateau State Court Orders Seizure of CBN Vehicle in Legal Battle

• Plateau State High Court authorizes the seizure of a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) vehicle in legal dispute aftermath
• Legal practitioner, John Eche Okpe, seeks enforcement of judgment, leading to the court-authorized vehicle seizure over non-compliance by CBN

In a recent development at the Plateau State High Court in Jos, the capital city, a vehicle owned by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) faces seizure following a legal dispute between John Eche Okpe, a legal practitioner, and the apex bank.

Justice N.D. Shaseet, presiding over the case with number PLD/J397/m/2023, issued a writ attachment targeting an Innoson IVM Double Cabin vehicle bearing the registration number KUJ696DD.

This information, disclosed on Saturday in Jos, unveils the aftermath of Okpe obtaining a judgment against the Federal Government and some of its agencies. Seeking to enforce the judgment, he initiated garnishee proceedings against the CBN. The garnishee order nisi, amounting to N10m, was made absolute by the judge on November 1, 2023.

Despite the court’s order, the Central Bank of Nigeria has allegedly failed to comply, prompting the court to authorize the seizure of the specified property. The notice emphasizes that the total amount now stands at N12,206,900, encompassing legal fees and expenses. The seized property is set to be auctioned after five days, starting from December 22, 2023.

The notice warns, “Take notice that a writ has been issued for the attachment and sale of property in executing the judgment/order obtained against you. Your property is hereby attached, and any sale or transfer of the same is prohibited.”

To avoid further fees or expenses, the notice advises settling the total amount with the bailiff within an hour of receiving the notice. Furthermore, the document outlines the process wherein if the levied amount, fees, and expenses are paid before the property’s sale, any remaining unpaid balance will be deducted from the proceeds.

This development is part of a larger legal battle, with the judge having previously issued a warrant of arrest against Mr. Jonah Akama, the state Controller of the CBN. This action was taken due to Akama’s alleged disobedience to a court order in the same suit.

In response to inquiries, Counsel for the CBN, A. A. Adewole, declined to comment on the ongoing legal matter. The situation highlights the escalating tensions surrounding the enforcement of the judgment and the court’s pursuit of compliance from the CBN.