Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, and the bank’s Director of Legal Services, Salam-Alada Kofo, are facing a contempt suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly failing to fully comply with a Supreme Court judgment.
Melrose General Services Limited, the applicant, filed the suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/532/2025) against Cardoso, Kofo, the CBN, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Minister of Finance, accusing them of refusing to release N220 million awarded to the company by the court.
The dispute is linked to the Paris Club Refund, involving consultant payments by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum. In June 2024, the Supreme Court overturned a forfeiture order and directed the release of funds, including N1.22 billion in Melrose’s bank account and an additional N220 million that had been transferred to Wasp Networks and Thebe Wellness.
While Melrose confirms it has received the N1.22 billion, it claims the N220 million remains unpaid, which it says constitutes disobedience to the Supreme Court. Represented by Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), the company argues that partial compliance undermines the court’s authority.
However, CBN’s lawyer, Abdulfatai Oyedele, maintains the N220 million was ordered to be paid to the original accounts of Wasp Network and Thebe Wellness—not to Melrose. He added that Wasp has requested N200 million, while Thebe Wellness has not claimed the remaining N20 million.
The EFCC, represented by M.A. Babatunde, filed a motion to be removed from the case, arguing it has no role in the alleged noncompliance.
Justice Inyang Ekwo will resume hearing the matter on June 4, 2025, to decide whether the CBN and its officials have defied the Supreme Court’s orders or acted in line with its interpretation.