Court of Appeal Upholds ₦2.5bn Judgment for Ex‑ABU Workers, Dismisses CBN Appeal
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has dismissed separate appeals filed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) challenging the enforcement of a ₦2.5 billion judgment debt awarded to 110 former ABU staff unlawfully dismissed in 1996.
Delivering a unanimous judgment, Justice Okon Abang upheld earlier rulings of the National Industrial Court and ordered immediate compliance with the payment directive. The appellate court strongly criticised both institutions for prolonging litigation and disobeying subsisting court orders, warning that further delays could attract sanctions.
Justice Abang held that the CBN acted outside its statutory role by frustrating execution of a valid judgment, describing its conduct as an abuse of process. He emphasised that the apex bank’s duty was to release funds pursuant to the garnishee order absolute, not to assume the role of an advocate.
The dispute traces back to the disengagement of 110 ABU staff in 1996. After years without redress, the workers approached the National Industrial Court in 2012, which in 2015 ruled in their favour and, in 2016, ordered ABU to pay ₦2.5 billion plus interest. ABU’s failure to comply led to garnishee proceedings against banks holding its funds, including the CBN.
In 2022, the Industrial Court made the garnishee order absolute, directing the CBN to release the judgment sum. The CBN resisted, arguing that consent of the Attorney‑General of the Federation was required. The courts rejected this position, noting that the Attorney‑General was already a party to the suit.
In dismissing the latest appeals, the Court of Appeal awarded costs of ₦5 million each against the CBN and ABU in favour of the workers. The court reaffirmed the exclusive jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court over labour matters, including post‑judgment enforcement, and stressed the need for finality in litigation.
