Court orders seizure of CBN property over N12.2m debt

APlateau State High Court sitting in Jos has ordered the seizure of a property belonging to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over a suit between John Eche Okpe (Esq) and the CBN.

The writ attachment (seizure) ordered by Honourable Justice N D Shaseet was signed by the registrar of the court and the property seized is an Innoson IVM double-cabin vehicle with registration number: KUJ696DD. The seizure notice was made available to newsmen yesterday in Jos.

In the said case with number PLD/J397/m/2023, John Eche Okpe, had obtained judgment against the Federal Government of Nigeria and some of its agencies and sought to, and in fact, enforced the judgment via a garnishee proceeding against the CBN.

The garnishee order is to the tune of N10m as made absolute by Justice Shaseet on November 1, 2023.

But since making the order absolute, the CBN failed to comply with the order, thereby necessitating the property seizure.

However, the total amount to which the writ has been issued is now N12,206,900, including legal fees and expenses, and the property will be sold at the end of five days, beginning from December 22, 2023.

The notice reads in part: “Take notice that a writ has been issued for the attachment and sale of property in execution of the judgement/order obtained against you in this section/matter and the amount for which it has been issued is stated.

“And take notice that your property is hereby attached and you are prohibited from selling the same or any right title, or interest therein. If you pay to the bailiff the total amount to be levied, as stated, within an hour after the service of this notice, you will incur no further fees or expenses.”

Recall that the judge also last week issued a warrant of arrest against the state’s Controller of the CBN, Jonah Akama, over disobedience to court order in the same suit.

When contacted for his reaction, Counsel to CBN, A A Adewole, refused to comment.