WATCH THE VIDEO HERE The Governor of Kogi State and the Attorney General have filed a Notice of Appeal at the Supreme Court, challenging a Court of Appeal ruling delivered on April 25, 2025, which ordered them to pay Elder Simon Achuba, former Deputy Governor, the sum of ₦1,070,860,138 in unpaid salaries, travel allowances, and statutory allocations. The appeal, lodged under suit number CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/1053M1/24, contests the appellate court’s jurisdiction and the validity of the awarded. The dispute stems from a 2020 judgment of the National Industrial Court in suit number NICN/ABJ/244/2019, which affirmed Achuba’s entitlement to statutory benefits as Deputy Governor between 2017 and 2019. In an earlier decision on April 29, 2024 (CA/ABJ/CV/30/2021), the Court of Appeal upheld aspects of the trial court’s ruling but set aside a ₦200 million security vote award and dismissed claims for imprest and personal expenses as lacking merit. However, on April 25, 2025, a panel of the Court of Appeal presided over by Justices Joseph Oyewole, Peter Obiorah, and Okon Abang granted Achuba’s enforcement application, awarding him over ₦1.07 billion—an amount the appellants argue was not part of any prior judgment and was unilaterally calculated. Represented by J.B. Daudu, SAN, the appellants raise six grounds of error in their appeal to the Supreme Court. They argue, among other things, that: The appeal also disputes the court’s assumption that the appellants did not contest the ₦1.07 billion figure. The appellants argue that their primary objection was on jurisdictional grounds, not the amount. They note that Achuba’s cross-appeal for imprest and allowances was dismissed, and the entitlements upheld merely reaffirmed the National Industrial Court’s original, unchallenged findings—which did not include a liquidated sum. Accordingly, the appellants are asking the Supreme Court to set aside the April 25, 2025 ruling for lack of jurisdiction and grant any other reliefs the court deems appropriate under Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act. Achuba, who initially sued Governor Yahaya Bello in 2019 over alleged arrears totaling ₦819 million, is represented by renowned rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN. The case has reignited discussions on governance and public officer entitlements in Kogi State, with analysts noting that appeals from the National Industrial Court end at the Court of Appeal, and questioning why the lawyers are heading to the Supreme Court.
Kogi Govt Appeals To Supreme Court Over Court Of Appeal’s ₦1.07bn Award To Achuba, Says Sum Not Contained In Any NIC Judgment
