The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has been summoned by a Federal High Court in Abuja over a $53 million judgement debt arising from the Pars Club refunds.
The presiding judge, Inyang Ekwo, gave the order on October 20, 2022, following an application for garnishee made by Joe Agi, a senior advocate of Nigeria who is the judgment creditor.
The court granted the application and ordered Emefiele to appear in court on Wednesday, January 18.
But at the court session yesterday, the case was adjourned to March 20, even though no reason was given for the adjournment.
The dispute arose from an alleged $70 million judgment against Linas International Ltd for the lawyer’s (Joe Agi) assistance with the Paris Club refund.
Emefiele was said to have only released $17 million, leaving an unpaid balance of $53 million.
On January 23, 2020, the court had ruled that Emefiele must appear “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 million now due and payable under the said garnishee order absolute and also show cause why you should not be committed to prison for default in payment of the said sum”.
Also in October 2022, Agi through his counsel, Isaac Ekpa and Chinonso Obasi, filed another application against Linas International, minister of finance and the CBN, seeking “an order directing the inspector-general of police to arrest Emefiele and bring him to court alongside his lawyers: Damian Dodo, Audu Anuga, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and Ginika Ezeoke, Jessica Iyoke, Abdullahi Afolayan, and Olayemi Afolayan”.
