N8Bn: Tiv Monarchs, Judgement Creditors Petition EFCC
By Godwin Agia, Jalingo
The judgment creditors, Peter Orngu and thirteen others, along with Tiv traditional rulers from the Sankera and Kwande regions of Benue State, located in North-Central Nigeria, have submitted a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Makurdi Zonal Office.
This petition concerns the alleged fraudulent acquisition of N8 billion by Hon. Eze Nwa of Rhemalaw Chambers from the judgment awarded in their favour regarding the military invasion of Zaki-Biam and Kwande that occurred between October 20 and 24, 2001.
The judgment creditors and Tiv traditional rulers, including the first-class chiefs of Ukum, Logo, and Katsina-Ala, HRH Chief David Sevav and HRH Chief Ambrose Iyortyer, as well as the First-Class Chief of Kwande, had previously accused Hon. Eze Nwa in a case filed against the Federal Government of Nigeria by the late Anyor Gaadi (now represented by Peter Orngu and thirteen others) of fraudulently obtaining N8 billion from the judgment sum awarded.
“On August 19, 2019, the judgment creditors applied for a Garnishee Order Absolute, which was granted by His Lordship, Justice I. E. Ekwo. This application pertained to the sum of eight billion naira, representing part payment of the judgment sum of N41,898,983,600.00 (Forty-One Billion, Eight Hundred and Ninety-Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Three Thousand Naira).
“The Tiv traditional rulers, through their current legal representative, Barr. Ben Tilley Adanyi of Chatham Partners, situated at No. 20 Usman Sarki Crescent, Off M.T.O. Akubo Street, Off Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Way, Utako, Abuja FCT, have accused Eze Nwa, in the petition made available to our correspondent, of forging their signatures for presentation to the Debt Management Office to collect the N8 billion intended to resettle those affected by the unlawful military invasion.
“Hon. Eze Nwa, in defiance of the court’s directive, colluded with the Debt Management Office to obtain the promissory note and has failed, refused, or neglected to deposit the same into the Court Litigation Account. Our clients, the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 11th, and 13th judgment creditors, have submitted a letter of mandate to Barr. Ben Tilley Adanyi of Chatham Partners, wherein they assert that they never authorized Hon. Eze Nwa of Rhemalaw Chambers to act on their behalf,” the statement reads.
They argue that their signatures were forged by the 14th judgment creditor, Mr. Andrew Juntu. The petitioners have also attached a copy of the letter of mandate for the EFCC’s examination.
“We have received reliable information that Hon. Eze Nwa Uwa of Rhemalaw Chambers and his accomplices intend to obtain value for the eight billion and abscond to a neighboring African country to seek refuge.
“This situation necessitates the immediate placement of a lien on the promissory notes to prevent any bank in Nigeria from executing them until these matters are resolved. Our clients are deeply aggrieved that after waiting for over 17 years to benefit from the outcome of their legal efforts, an unknown third party has conspired with the Debt Management Office to collect the sum of eight billion naira (in promissory notes) and has failed to remit the same to the Litigation Account as ordered by the Federal High Court.
“We request that the EFCC urgently place a lien on the released promissory notes and compel Hon. Eze Nwa to produce individuals whose signatures he utilized, enabling him to collect the substantial sum of money on behalf of the invaded Tiv communities,” the statement concludes.
