Industrial Court Orders GT Bank to Pay Judgment Creditor N16m Immediately

Hon. Justice Zaynab Bashir of the Portharcourt Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court has made the order Nisi granted against the GT Bank in favour of the Judgment creditor, Mr. Timothy Onuosa absolute.

The Court ordered Garnishee Bank- GT Bank to pay into the designated account of Timothy Onuosa’s solicitor, the Judgment sum of N15, 200, 000.00 (Fifteen Million Two Hundred Thousand Naira), and N1, 393, 333.26 (One Million Three Hundred and Ninety-three Thousand Three Hundred and Thirty-Three Naira Twenty six kobo) accrued interest and N200, 000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand naira) cost of garnishee proceeding and proof of compliance be filed and kept in the court’s file for record purpose.

From facts, the applicant- Mr. Timothy Onuosa had sought the enforcement of the judgment of the court made in his favour in a matter against Ibeeco International delivered in 2021 where the Court ordered the firm to pay him the sum of N15,200,000.00 (Fifteen Million and Two Hundred Thousand Naira) being the accrued monthly salaries from November 2016 to December 2019 within one month from the date of the delivery of this judgment, failure of which the said sum shall attract interest at the rate of 10% per annum.

On 18^th October 2022, the Court granted an Order Nisi attaching the Credit Amount standing in the Guaranty Trust Bank- (Garnishee) in favour of the Judgment Debtor for the satisfaction of the Judgment Debt and to show cause why an Order absolute should not be made against it.

Upon the hearing of the application for an order absolute, the learned counsel for the GT Bank gave the assurance that the Judgement credit amount standing in the Judgement Debtor’s account is sufficient to satisfy the Judgement sum, and confirmed the readiness of the Bank to pay the judgment sum, and urged the court to make the Garnishee Order Absolute in the interest of justice.

Delivering the ruling after careful perusal of the submission of both parties, the presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Zainab Bashir considered the application and granted the prayer as prayed.

“With the Garnishee’s Affidavit to Show Cause duly filed in compliance with the Garnishee Order Nisi, and no opposition to the enforcement of the said Judgement debt contained in the judgment of this court delivered on 10th November 2021.

“Accordingly, the Garnishee Order Nisi granted by this court on the 18th of October 2022, is hereby made Absolute.” Justice Zainab Ruled.