Court Enforces ₦10m Judgment Against NEPC, Seizes Assets in Benin Office
On August 17, 2026, court bailiffs, supported by armed police officers, executed a writ of attachment against the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) at its Benin office, Edo State, enforcing a ₦10 million judgment debt in Ahmed Fawaz v. NEPC (Suit No. B/238/13). The enforcement team seized office assets including computers, photocopiers, a generator, fans, a refrigerator, and a Nissan Frontier pickup, causing significant disruption and embarrassment among staff.
The dispute arose from a land ownership case at Evbuobogun Town, Ikpoba-Okha LGA, with the Court of Appeal (Suit No. CA/B/77/20) affirming the High Court’s award of ₦10 million in damages against NEPC. Despite service of certified judgment copies and notices of attachment on NEPC’s Executive Director/CEO, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, the Council failed to settle the debt or pursue legal remedies, prompting execution of the writ.
Senior staff described Ayeni’s inaction as dereliction of duty, noting that federal agencies subject to monetary judgments are ordinarily required to notify the Attorney General of the Federation under the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act before enforcement against public funds. Sources suggested this step was not taken, raising questions about procedural compliance.
The incident adds to ongoing controversies surrounding Ayeni’s leadership, including halted promotion exercises flagged by the Office of the Head of Civil Service in 2025 and disputes over re-engagement of retired officers. The NEPC Staff Union has now formally opposed recent redeployments of external directors, escalating internal tensions.
Lawyers and governance observers view the enforcement as a cautionary tale on the consequences of ignoring judicial orders, highlighting the intersection of administrative accountability, statutory compliance, and the rule of law in Nigeria’s public institutions.
