Court of Appeal Delivers Major Legal Victory to Abia Govt, Sets Aside ₦6.5bn, $11m Garnishee Order

The Abia State Government has secured another major victory at the Court of Appeal in Abuja. A fresh ruling has significant implications for the state’s finances. Click to read full details.

The Abia State Government has recorded another significant legal victory at the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, following a judgment that set aside the garnishee placed on the state’s accounts over a disputed ₦6.5 billion and $11 million liability.

The judgment, delivered a few hours ago, arose from an appeal filed by the Abia State Government and argued by senior advocate, Ken Ahia, SAN, challenging the garnishee order obtained against the state based on a consent judgment entered by the previous administration.

In its ruling, the appellate court upheld the arguments canvassed by the learned silk and resolved all issues raised in the appeal in favour of the Abia State Government, effectively lifting the garnishee order placed on the state’s accounts.

The garnishee proceedings, which had threatened the financial operations of the state, were linked to a consent judgment allegedly entered without due diligence by the former government, resulting in claims running into billions of naira and millions of dollars.

Legal analysts note that the Court of Appeal’s decision marks a crucial intervention in what had become a contentious legal and financial burden on the state. 

Officials of the state government are expected to issue a formal reaction to the judgment, while further details surrounding the decision and its broader implications are anticipated in the coming hours.