N8bn Zaki-Biam invasion compensation: Tiv traditional rulers, judgment creditors petition EFCC over alleged fraud

By Godwin Agia, Jalingo

The judgment creditors (Peter Orngu and 13 others) and Tiv traditional rulers from the Sankera and Kwande axis of Benue State, North-Central Nigeria, have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Makurdi Zonal Office, over the alleged fraudulent collection of N8 billion by Hon. Eze Nwa of Rhemalaw Chambers from the judgment delivered in their favour regarding the military invasion of Zaki-Biam and Kwande between 20 and 24 October 2001.
The judgement creditors and Tiv traditional rulers: the First-Class Chiefs of Ukum, Logo, and Katsina-Ala, HRH Chief David Sevav and HRH Chief Ambrose Iyortyer, the First-Class Chief of Kwande, had earlier accused Hon. Eze Nwa in a case filed against the Federal Government of Nigeria by late Anyor Gaadi (now Peter Orngu and 13 others)
of fraudulently collecting N8 billion out of the judgment sum awarded.
“On August 19th, 2019, the judgment creditors applied for a Garnishee Order Absolute, and the application was granted by His Lordship, Hon. Justice I. E. Ekwo, that application was made in the sum of eight billion naira, being 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 counsel, Barr. Ben Tilley Adanyi of Chatham Partners, located at No. 20 Usman Sarki Crescent, Off M.T.O. Akubo Street, Off Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Way, Utako, Abuja FCT, in the petition made available to our correspondent, accused Eze Nwa of forging their signatures to present before the Debt Management Office to collect the N8 billion meant to resettle the people who suffered from the unlawful military invasion.
“Hon. Eze Nwa, in defiance of the court, connived with the Debt Management Office and collected the promissory note and has refused, failed, or neglected to pay same into the Court Litigation Account. Our clients the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 11th, and 13th judgment creditors have written a letter of mandate to Barr. Ben Tilley Adanyi of Chatham Partners, wherein they affirmed that at no point did they give their mandate to Hon. Eze Nwa of Rhemalaw Chambers to act for and on their behalf,” it stated.