The Kogi State Government has lost its legal battle to stop the payment of over one billion naira in salaries and entitlements to its former Deputy Governor, Simon Achuba, who was unlawfully impeached in 2019. The Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed the state’s request to halt execution of the judgment, declaring that the matter had reached its legal conclusion.
A panel of three justices, led by Justice Okon Abang, ruled that the case, being a civil dispute from the National Industrial Court, could not be taken further to the Supreme Court. The appellate court earlier affirmed Achuba’s right to the payments in April 2024, upholding the Industrial Court’s 2020 decision, which excluded security votes but confirmed his right to other outstanding earnings.
The court described the latest attempt by the state to delay payment as frivolous and legally baseless. Justice Abang criticised the conduct of the senior counsel representing the state, imposing a fine of three million naira to be paid to the former Deputy Governor for what was seen as an abuse of court process.
The legal action stemmed from Achuba’s removal in 2019, which he challenged successfully. The former deputy governor initially secured victory at the National Industrial Court, which ordered his unpaid salaries and allowances to be paid. After exhausting appeals, the Court of Appeal stated that its decision was final and binding, compelling the Kogi State Government to comply.
