Appeal Court Quashes Madumere’s N1.9b Garnishee Judgment; Orders Zenith bank To Pay Imo Workers

Justice Rita Pemu of the Court of Appeal in  Owerri has quashed the N1.9billion garnishee judgement instituted by the former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere for which Zenith Bank suspended payment of salaries of workers.

Consequently, the Court also on Tuesday ordered Zenith bank to immediately commence payment of salaries of the workers as well as other government financial obligations that the said garnishee judgement could have affected until the matter before it is dispensed with.

The Court also granted the relief sought by the Imo State government to enable it file its appeal against a judgement of National Industrial Court in Owerri which ordered the State Government to pay N1.9 billion to Madumere, an amount the former Deputy Governor claimed was his benefits while in office.

After listening to the submissions by Counsel to the Imo State government, I.I Nwachukwu and Counsel to Madumere, L .M Njemanze, Justice Pemu granted the two reliefs sought by the Imo State Government.

The two reliefs sought were: stay of execution which ordered the unsealing of Zenith bank branches in Owerri and the right for the Imo State Government to appeal the absolute garnishee order in favour of Madumere.

Justice Pemu thereafter adjourned the case to June 30, 2022.

Madumere had sued and got judgement against the Imo State Government, following his illegal impeachment as Deputy Governor to then Governor Rochas Okorocha.

An Imo State High Court overturned the impeachment dismissed it as null and void and ordered the Imo State Government to pay him his entitlements as Deputy Governor.

Neither Okorocha nor his successor, the Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha paid Madumere. He was forced to approach the Industrial Court which garnished, absolutely, the Accounts of the Imo State Government, pending the payment of Madumere’s claim of N1.9 billion. The Imo State Government, under Governor Hope Uzodinma said Madumere is owed not more than N144m; that he is claiming imprest for works he did not do.

Last week, all the branches of the Zenith Bank in Owerri were sealed by Policemen and officials of the Industrial  Court, thus, paralysing the activities of the Government, including the payment of workers’ May salaries.