N3.4B Debt: Makinde Must Pay Sacked Council Officials – Court Insists

N3.4b Debt: Makinde Must Pay Sacked
Council Officials – Court Insists.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has insisted yesterday that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde must pay the outstanding salaries and allowances of the local government chairmen, vice chairmen and councillors he sacked upon assuming office on May 29, 2019, https://thenationonlineng.net reported.

The presiding Justice said it was important that the victim’s interest be taken into consideration, in view of information that some of them had died waiting for justice.

Justice Williams-Daudu spoke during hearing of the appeal filed by the Makinde and six others against the April 27 orders of Justice A. O. Ebong of an Abuja High Court, in furtherance of a Supreme Court judgment given on May 7, 2021, ordering Makinde to pay the outstanding salaries and allowances of the sacked council officials.

At yesterday’s hearing, lawyer to Ajuwon and others, Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), said there was no dispute about whether or not Makinde could immediately pay the N1.3 billiion as ordered by Justice Ebong, because the bank has written to confirm so.

The court thus asked lawyers to parties to work out a way to ensure prompt payment, following which Justice Williams-Daudu directed that the case file be transferred to the mediation court and adjourned till July 6 for report.

According to her, the process will be swift ‘because it is faster and devoid of undue rigidity as it is with the normal court process.

Justice Williams-Daudu’ also told the governor’s lawyers to ensure that senior government officials who are to take decisions are to represent the state and governor during the mediation process.

“We don’t want a director to say he or she is not in a position to take decisions or needs to obtain permission from another person,” she added.