By Gabriel Ameh
ABUJA, Nigeria – United Bank for Africa (UBA) is facing fresh legal pressure as Mauritz Walton Nigeria Limited moves to initiate contempt proceedings against the bank’s senior executives over an alleged failure to comply with a court order involving a ₦7.44 billion judgment debt.
The company’s enforcement efforts reportedly include applications seeking the committal of UBA Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba, and other senior executives, alongside moves to attach some of the bank’s assets and branches in Abuja.
The dispute centres on a judgment debt of ₦7,448,113,025.42 obtained by Mauritz Walton against the Benue State Government and subsequent garnishee proceedings involving funds held by UBA on behalf of the state government.
In a ruling delivered by Justice Bello Kawu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, the court made an earlier Garnishee Order Nisi absolute against UBA, directing the bank to pay the judgment sum to the creditors through their solicitors’ chambers within 24 hours of service of the order.
The court discharged the remaining 20 garnishees from the proceedings, leaving UBA as the garnishee against which the payment directive was made.
Justice Kawu also held that the appeals filed by the Benue State Government against the original judgment did not automatically suspend the garnishee proceedings.
The judge explained that garnishee proceedings involve a third party holding money belonging to a judgment debtor and that an appeal against the substantive judgment does not, by itself, prevent enforcement.
The court identified an account belonging to the Benue State Government, described as its FAAC/Treasury Single Account domiciled with UBA.
According to the ruling, the account had a balance of ₦2,093,222,436.25 as of November 18, 2025, when the Garnishee Order Nisi was served on the bank.
The court further noted that subsequent Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations had been paid into the account, stating that the funds and subsequent accruals were covered by the order to the extent required to satisfy the judgment debt.
Among the authorities considered by the court was the Court of Appeal decision in Dangote Cement Plc v. Ekeson Salins Oil & Gas Ltd & Ors (2024) LPELR-62744(CA).
However, the available court document does not establish whether UBA subsequently made the payment, whether the order was stayed or overturned, or whether the judgment debt has been fully settled.
Mauritz Walton alleges that UBA has failed to comply with the payment directive, prompting the company to pursue further enforcement measures, including contempt proceedings against the bank’s top executives.
The judgment creditors have also reportedly filed applications seeking the attachment of UBA’s headquarters and other branches in Abuja as part of efforts to recover the outstanding judgment debt.
Speaking on the dispute, the Group Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mauritz Walton Limited, Dr Maurice Ibe, said the company remained committed to pursuing the matter through the judicial system.
Ibe accused UBA and the Benue State Government of frustrating the enforcement process, alleging that the company had faced provocations and intimidation.
He said Mauritz Walton had instructed its legal team to explore all available enforcement options, including proceedings seeking the committal of executives considered responsible for the alleged non-compliance.
The businessman also disclosed that the company had briefed lawyers in the United Kingdom and the United States to explore possible legal avenues for attaching UBA’s assets and properties in both jurisdictions.
He added that the company intended to report the bank’s alleged conduct to relevant regulatory authorities.
Ibe further accused UBA of frustrating the enforcement of an earlier judgment obtained by Mauritz Walton in December 2021 against the Ebonyi State Government, involving $30 million and ₦20 billion.
The allegation concerning the earlier judgment has not been independently verified.
The businessman warned that perceived difficulties in enforcing court judgments could undermine investor confidence in Nigeria’s business environment and judicial system.
Meanwhile, reports of police visits to some UBA branches in the Federal Capital Territory have reportedly heightened anxiety among employees.
A staff member of one of the affected branches, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said armed policemen had visited the premises and indicated that they would return during the week.
The employee described the situation as unsettling, adding that some workers were concerned about possible disruptions to banking operations and the potential seizure of assets.
The staff member also expressed fears that the bank’s bullion vans could be affected by further enforcement actions.
The unfolding dispute has renewed attention on the responsibilities of financial institutions acting as garnishees, the enforcement of judicial decisions and the legal consequences of alleged non-compliance with court orders.
UBA’s response to the allegations, reported police visits and claims of failure to comply with the court directive was not available at the time of filing this report.
SOURCE: Court documents and statements attributed to Mauritz Walton Nigeria Limited, as contained in the supplied report.
