By Peter Duru,
A Senior District Court sitting in Makurdi, has ordered the Benue State Government to pay a judgment debt of approximately N57 million to former Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Terwase Orbunde, and 13 others who served under the immediate past administration of Samuel Ortom.
Presiding Judge, Kevin Mbanongun, on November 5, 2025, directed the Operational Manager of Fidelity Bank Plc to enforce the garnishee order and ensure full compliance within five hours of service.
Those listed to benefit from the ruling include Senator Titus Zam, Simon Abua, Emmanuel Manger, Prof. Jonathan Uever, Dr. Mathew Mnyam, Tahav Agerzua, and Shimataver Aondoakaa. Others are Mr. Merga Kachina, the late Shima Ayati, Stephen Tyochir, Tsenongo Abacha, James Uloko, and Sam Unom.
The former government officials had sued the state government over the non-payment of their severance gratuities, which they said were approved in their appointment letters but left unpaid after they left office.
Their counsel, Ocha Ulegede, initiated the garnishee proceedings following a summary judgment delivered by the National Industrial Court in Makurdi on December 13, 2024, which the state allegedly failed to honour.
Speaking in court, one of the beneficiaries, Mr. Agerzua, described the ruling as “justice well served,” noting that several appeals had been made to relevant authorities, despite the Ministry of Finance reportedly approving the funds at the end of the Ortom administration.
Although the court order was served on Fidelity Bank at about 1 p.m. on Wednesday, payment had not been effected as at the time of filing this report.
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