The Federal High Court, Makurdi Division, Benue State, has restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from releasing N4 billion earmarked as compensation for victims of the Zaki-Biam massacre.
Justice Joshua Raphael Egbe made the order in Suit No. FHC/MKD/CS/123/2026, filed by Isaga Terkula and four others against the Federal Ministry of Finance and eight others.
Counsel to the plaintiffs, Barrister Chris Alashi, told journalists in Makurdi that the interim order became necessary after, according to him, persons who were not among the judgment creditors allegedly obtained promissory notes in respect of the judgment.
Other defendants in the suit are the Debt Management Office (DMO), CBN, RHEMALAW Partners, Hon. Eze Nwa-Uwa, The Anavo Institute Limited, Chief J.K. Gadzama (SAN), Ocha Ulegede, Esq., and the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.
Alashi said the N4 billion tranche was due for payment on October 9, 2026, and that the subject matter of the suit could be “dissipated” if the payment was made before the court determined the issues raised in the substantive application.
The plaintiffs had initially secured a N41.8 billion judgment, but the Federal Government appealed the decision before subsequently seeking an out-of-court settlement, Alashi said.
After considering the application moved by Dr D.O. Penda, Justice Egbe granted the interim injunction and directed that the subject matter of the suit be preserved pending the hearing of the motion on notice within 14 days.
The judge restrained the 1st and 2nd defendants from approving or authorising the CBN to pay the holders or beneficiaries of five promissory notes with a combined value of N4 billion.
The promissory notes are: N1.7664 billion issued to RHEMALAW Partners; N933.6 million to Eze Nwa-Uwa; N400 million to The Anavo Institute; N400 million to Chief J.K. Gadzama (SAN); and N500 million to Ocha P. Ulegede.
Justice Egbe also restrained the CBN from dematerialising, redeeming, assigning monetary value to or paying the beneficiaries of the promissory notes, including any financial institution or person that may have acquired an interest in them.
The judge said the reliefs sought were granted pending the hearing of the motion on notice and adjourned the matter to October 14, 2026, for hearing.
Counsel to the seventh defendant, Barrister P.N. Joji, who held brief for Barrister Darlington Onyekwere, asked the court for time to enable Chief J.K. Gadzama (SAN) respond to the processes served on him.
There was no objection to the request.
Counsel to the CBN, Professor Chukwuemeka Anyogu, also said that the bank had no difficulty complying with the court order.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to October 14 for hearing of the motion on notice.
The Zaki-Biam litigation arose from a military operation in four local government areas of Benue State in 2001, during which scores of people were killed by soldiers deployed to the area.
COURTESY: Independent
