CBN Lodges Appeal Against Court’s Order To Pay Reinstated Federal Urban Mass Transit Staff N2.8bn

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has lodged an appeal against the decision of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria the decision of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Abuja delivererd by Hon. Justice E. N. Agbakoba on 14th June, 2023 in a garnishee proceeding, ordering the CBN to pay the judgment sum of two billion, eight hundred million naira (N2.8 Billion) to 314 staff of Federal Urban Mass Transit Agency whose employment were wrongfully terminated under the Federal Ministry of Transport, .

The garnishee proceeding was instituted by Mr. Julius Komgbenda and 313 others who were Judgment Creditors in the suit comprising of the Minister, Federal Ministry of Transportation; President, Commander-in-Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria; Head of Service of the Federation and Federal Urban Mass Transit Agency. The CBN was among the 17 banks listed as Garnishees in the proceeding.

During the garnishee proceeding, CBN filed its affidavit to show cause on 4th November, 2022 deposing to facts that CBN is an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria; is a public officer that does not keep any account in the names of the Judgment Debtors and that from the processes served on the CBN there is no indication that the consent of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation was obtained before the garnishee order nisi was issued.

Part of the grounds of appeal is that the decision of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria did not countenance CBN’s affidavit to show cause thus, leading to the dissatisfaction of the CBN with the decision amidst other grouses which CBN furnished in its Notice of Appeal filed.

The appeal was filed on 5th July 2023 and application for stay of execution of the Judgment was filed on 6th July 2023. Both processes were served on the Respondents on the 6th of July 2023.

Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for the appeal.