Court orders Kogi to pay ex-deputy gov Simon Achuba N180m

Kogi Deputy Governor, Simon Achuba

The National Industrial Court on Wednesday ordered Kogi State Government to pay the former deputy governor Simon Achuba the sum of N180 million.

Justice Oyebiola Oyewunmi read the judgement, saying the sum will be paid to Mr Achuba as outstanding security votes due to him from April 2018 to August 2019.

The judge said the state government must pay the sum within the period of 30 days or 30 per cent interest would be paid monthly.

The court, however, dismissed Achuba’s prayers for the sum of N328million and N32,000 be paid as part of impress when he was in government.

Achuba was impeached in October 2019 by members of the Kogi State House of Assembly.

His impeachment followed the submission of a report of the committee set up by the state chief judge Justice Nasir Ajana to investigate an allegation of gross misconduct against him.

Achuba was replaced as deputy governor by Edward Onoja.

The ex-deputy governor dragged the state government to court seeking a declaration that the decision of the government to withhold his allowances amounted to unfair labour practice.

He asked for the sum of N921,572,758 for security vote, monthly impress, travelling allowances, outstanding memos, and statutory allocations due to his office, as then deputy governor.