The Central Bank of Nigeria has been instructed by a Federal High Court in Osogbo to provide reasons why funds in connection with a N100.1 million judgment debt should not be released to cover liabilities owed by the Nigeria Police Force and other parties.
Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi issued the directive on Wednesday following an ex parte application filed by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) and its chairman, Hasim Abioye.
The applicants sought enforcement of a November 2025 judgment that awarded damages against the police and other defendants. That ruling mandated the payment of N100 million in damages plus N100,000 in costs for actions taken against the electoral body before the February 22, 2025, local government polls in Osun State.
During the fresh proceedings, the applicants’ lawyer, I.T. Tewogbade, argued that the judgment sum remains unpaid. The court granted a garnishee order nisi, directing the apex bank to show cause why funds from accounts held with it, including those in the Treasury Single Account, should not be used to satisfy the debt.
Justice Demi-Ajayi ruled that the bank must appear to justify why the money should not be released. The initial judgment had declared the police’s sealing of OSSIEC offices and arrest of its staff unlawful, with no legal basis for interfering in the electoral process.