FEDERAL HIGH COURT DISMISSES JUSUN’S APPEAL TO ATTACH EDO STATE GOVT ACCOUNTS
Juliet Uduji
The Federal High Court Today, Thursday August 27, in Abuja, dismissed the Appeal by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
The appeal had prayed the court to freeze the accounts of Edo State Government so as to enable JUSUN execute an earlier judgement granted the union.
The Accountant General of the Federation was to be served the order to direct Zenith bank PLC, Access bank, United Bank for Africa(Uba PLC), Polaris bank PLC, First bank Limited, Guarantee Trust bank PLC, Heritage Bank PLC, Sterling Bank PLC, to satisfy the Judgement awarded in favour of JUSUN.
However, Justice Abang, who crossed-checked the earlier Judgment documents; voided the appeal of the judgment creditor, JUSUN and declared that the appeal had ulterior motives and lacks competency.
He further criticized JUSUN:
“Judgement has been recovered, and its still unsatisfied and to what amount”
No specific sum was awarded or liquidated in favour of the creditor, and the amount to be awarded must be stated on the body of the motion paper.
JUSUN failed to state the specific amount, so it is not for the court to cripple the money of the Federal account of Edo State.”
“JUSUN adopted a very Non-challant, careless approach to judgement, not stating clearly what they are entitled monetary”.
“Therefore; the court of law has no jurisdiction to liquidate the accounts of the Edo State Government”.
Abang went further to question the motive of JUSUN by waiting till August 2020 to file such application, a month before the Edo State Election.
In the judge’s view:
“To make an order to this application will cause hardship to the entire Edo State Economy and will cripple the States’ Activities, that only leads to hardship in this period of time.
This Application was filed in an indecent haste and in a bad fate.
So, the application is Vague and devoid of merit.”
The case has been adjourned to September 30th for further hearing.