Military invasion of Benue: Court orders CBN to pay N8bn compensation


By John Ameh
Eventually, justice may be on the horizon as the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to immediately pay the sum of N8 billion compensation in favour of some communities in Benue State that were invaded by Nigerian soldiers.


The benefitting communities which are in Logo, Ukum, Kwande and Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas of Benue State are to be paid the said sum for the losses of lives and property they suffered during the invasions by the Nigerian Army in 2001.

CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele

The presiding judge, Justice Nyang Ekwo gave the order following the garnishee application by the communities.


The application was for the enforcement of the consent judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal in Enugu on February 2, 2015.
The judge, who had earlier granted the preliminary “garnishee nisi”, made the garnishee order “absolute” on Monday, by ordering the CBN to pay the sum of N8bn into an interest-yielding account to be opened and maintained in First Bank of Nigeria Plc by the Chief Registrar of the court.


The judge added that he would subsequently make an order for the disbursement of the money after the CBN complies with the order for the payment.


‎The judge said terms of disbursement would have to be signed by first class chiefs of Jukun, Logo, Kwande, Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas on behalf of the Tiv Traditional Council.
“The garnishee (CBN) is hereby ordered to pay the garnishee sum into an interest-yielding account to be opened and maintained by the Chief Registrar of this court in First Bank of Nigeria Plc.


“The order authorising the disbursement of the money shall be made upon being satisfied with the terms of disbursement including the legal fees jointly singed by Ocha Ulegede, Esq, and J.K Gadzama, SAN, for the ganishors and endorsed by first-class chiefs of Jukun, Logo, Kwande, Katsina-Ala local government areas on behalf of the Tiv Traditional Council,” the court ruled.


The plaintiffs in the suit are 14 persons from the Benue communities, who were said to have suffered various degrees of losses during the military invasion around March 2001, about 18 years ago.
They are, Dr. Alexander Gaadi, Peter Orngu, Terfa Akaagba, Anongo Unishigh, Ngunengen Adula, Demelu Adula, Zaki Mazan, Mbakesen Ayatse, Mbayemen Maswuan, Anande Agashia, Azenda Igo, Elizabeth Aoughakaa, and Andrew Juntu.