Kogi: N1.07bn Payment to Ex-Deputy Governor – Legal Battle
- A legal battle between the Kogi State government and its former deputy Governor, Elder simon Achuba, has escalated to the Supreme Court.
- The heart of the matter lies in two vastly different figures: ₦180 million, initially awarded by the National Industrial Court in 2020, and ₦1,070,860,138, affirmed by the Court...
- The National Industrial Court's original ruling covered unpaid security votes from April 2018 to August 2019.
The Kogi State government is locked in a Supreme Court battle with its former deputy governor, Elder Simon Achuba, over a disputed N1.07 billion payment. This legal fight, marked by conflicting court rulings, centers on the precise amount Kogi owes Achuba for unpaid salaries, travel allowances, and entitlements from 2017 and 2018.While the National Industrial Court initially awarded N180 million, the Court of Appeal later affirmed the significantly larger sum. The Kogi government challenges this interpretation, arguing the N1.07 billion figure wasn’t explicitly steadfast.O. Adegboyega, representing the state, seeks clarity. News Directory 3 brings you the latest. The supreme Court’s ruling will ultimately define the state’s financial obligations. Discover what’s next.
Kogi State Asks Supreme Court to Clarify achuba Entitlements
Updated May 27, 2025
A legal battle between the Kogi State government and its former deputy Governor, Elder simon Achuba, has escalated to the Supreme Court. At issue is the amount the government owes Achuba, a figure mired in conflicting court decisions and interpretations. The dispute highlights the complex role of the judiciary in resolving political and financial disagreements.
The heart of the matter lies in two vastly different figures: ₦180 million, initially awarded by the National Industrial Court in 2020, and ₦1,070,860,138, affirmed by the Court of Appeal in april 2025. The larger sum represents unpaid salaries, travel allowances, and other entitlements allegedly accrued during Achuba’s tenure in 2017 and 2018.
The National Industrial Court’s original ruling covered unpaid security votes from April 2018 to August 2019. kogi officials claim this amount has been settled. However, the Court of Appeal’s subsequent judgment reignited the dispute, asserting a significantly higher financial obligation.
O. Adegboyega, representing the Kogi government, argues that the ₦1.07 billion figure was never explicitly determined by the initial court. Rather, they contend it’s an interpretation, potentially flawed, of a previous ruling.The state is now seeking the Supreme Court’s intervention to definitively establish the correct amount owed, emphasizing the importance of clarity in judicial decisions.
The Court of Appeal’s ruling stipulated that Achuba shoudl receive the full sum based on the 2017 and 2018 state budgets, encompassing salaries, travel allowances, and statutory allocations. The court also imposed an additional ₦2 million in legal costs on the state.
The Kogi government maintains that the Court of Appeal’s decision references a judgment that never explicitly stated the ₦1.07 billion figure. This perceived inconsistency forms the basis of their appeal to the Supreme Court, which is expected to provide a final and binding resolution.
What’s next
The Supreme Court’s decision will determine the extent of Kogi State’s financial responsibility to its former deputy governor, potentially setting a precedent for similar cases involving public officials and disputed entitlements.