A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a garnishee order, resulting in the freezing of 24 bank accounts belonging to the Kano State government.
The order comes in response to a compensation claim amounting to N30 billion filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Masalachi Eid Shop Owners and Traders Association who sought restitution for the demolition of their shops, carried out by the state government in June 2023.
Justice I. E. Ekwo granted the garnishee order, responding to the suit brought before the court by the aggrieved persons. The court ruling, delivered on November 28, 2023, and made available to the press on Wednesday, outlined the details of the order. The Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling, signed by Registrar Chioma Chijioke, said, “a garnishee order Nisi is hereby made attaching the funds (present and future) of Kano State Government, Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority, KNUPDA, and Attorney General of Kano State… and other accounts in the custody of the respective Garnishees to the tune of N30 billion.”
The ruling referred to the judgement of the Federal High Court in Kano, specifically referencing the decision made by Justice S. A Amobeda on September 29, 2023, which favoured the judgement creditors.
The order also grants the sum of N2 million as the cost of the Garnishees’ proceedings. The garnishees, including the Kano State Government and its related entities, are further directed to appear before the court to show cause why the order Nisi should not be made absolute against them. The judgement creditors have been instructed to serve the defendants and garnishees at least 14 days ahead of the next hearing, scheduled for January 18, 2024.
Among the frozen accounts are those held by 24 banks, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
