From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Melrose General Services Limited has initiated contempt proceedings against Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Olayemi Cardoso and Legal Services Director Salam-Alada Kofo for allegedly failing to comply with a Supreme Court judgement. The 2024 ruling reversed the forfeiture of ₦1.222 billion and ₦220 million linked to the Paris Club refund.
Filed as FHC/ABJ/CS/532/2025 before Justice Inyang Ekwo at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the suit, led by Melrose’s counsel Chikaosolu Ojukwu, claims that partial compliance undermines the court’s authority.
The Supreme Court had overturned an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) forfeiture order, ruling the funds—₦1.222 billion in Melrose’s Access Bank account and ₦220 million paid to Wasp Networks and Thebe Wellness—were not proven fraudulent.
It ordered their release, stating: “The appellant’s application (Melrose General Services Limited) to set aside the order of interim forfeiture of the sum of N1,222,384,857.84 in the appellant’s account with Access Bank Plc and N220,000,000.00 in the accounts of the 2nd and 3rd respondents (Wasp Networks and Thebe Wellness) is hereby granted.”
Melrose alleges that while the CBN refunded N1.222 billion, the N220 million remains unpaid. On March 27, Justice Ekwo permitted contempt notices (Forms 48 and 49) to be served, with a seven-day response deadline. By April 10, all parties except the Ministry of Finance had responded, per Melrose’s counsel, Segun Fiki.
The CBN, represented by Abdulfatai Oyedele, argues the Supreme Court directed the ₦220 million to Wasp Networks (₦200 million requested) and Thebe Wellness (₦20 million unclaimed), not Melrose. The EFCC, through M.A. Babatunde, seeks exclusion via a misjoinder motion.
The hearing is set for June 4.
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