Court orders CBN ABU workers judgment of N2.5bn to be paid immediately, threatening sanctions over further delays in settlement

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to immediately release N2.5 billion to 110 former workers of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, who were unlawfully dismissed in 1996, warning of sanctions if further delays occur.

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The ruling followed fresh attempts by the CBN and ABU to halt the payment, which were unanimously dismissed in separate three-member panel judgments delivered on Friday.

Justice Okon Abang, delivering the lead judgment, rejected the CBN’s contention that the workers could not initiate garnishee proceedings to recover the judgment sum, and dismissed the claim that consent from the Attorney General of the Federation was required before payment.

The 110 former ABU staff had been ordered reinstated by the National Industrial Court and awarded entitlements, which the university had lodged with the CBN for disbursement.

Both ABU and the CBN had separately appealed the judgment, challenging the garnishee proceedings initiated by the workers.

Justice Abang criticised the apex bank for expending public funds on legal actions aimed at frustrating the payment, describing its conduct as “reckless and reprehensible.”

He emphasised that the CBN’s duty was to implement court judgments, not act as an advocate against entitled workers.

“In this matter, it is not the duty of the CBN to play the role of the advocate but to implement the court judgment that awarded the money to the workers in the absence of any contrary court order,” Justice Abang said.

The Court of Appeal awarded an additional N5 million each against the CBN and ABU as costs, payable to the workers, on top of the N2.5 billion judgment sum.

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The ruling marks a decisive step in enforcing the long-delayed entitlements of the 110 former ABU employees, ending years of legal wrangling and prolonged hardship.