A firm that won a ₦7.44 billion judgment against the Benue State Government has begun committal proceedings against United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc’s Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba, and other senior executives. Mauritz Walton Nigeria Limited alleges the bank failed to obey a court order to pay the money. UBA had not publicly responded at the time of filing this report.
Mauritz Walton holds a judgment debt of ₦7,448,113,025.42 against Benue State and went after banks believed to hold state funds. Justice Bello Kawu of the FCT High Court made the Garnishee Order Nisi absolute against UBA, directing it to pay the sum to the creditors’ solicitors within 24 hours of service. The court discharged the other 20 garnishees.
The judge held that Benue’s appeals against the main judgment do not automatically suspend garnishee proceedings, citing the Court of Appeal ruling in Dangote Cement Plc v. Ekeson Salins Oil & Gas Ltd & Ors (2024) LPELR-62744(CA).
The court identified account number 100722383870 as Benue’s FAAC/Treasury Single Account with UBA. It held ₦2,093,222,436.25 on November 18, 2025, when the order was served. The judge said later FAAC allocations are covered by the order to the extent needed to clear the debt.
The court document does not show whether UBA has paid, whether the order has been stayed or overturned, or whether any of the debt has been recovered.
The creditors have reportedly applied to attach UBA’s headquarters and other Abuja branches. Mauritz Walton’s Group Executive Chairman and CEO, Dr Maurice Ibe, said the company will pursue every legal remedy, including committal for alleged disobedience of the order. He said lawyers in the UK and US have been briefed on possible attachment of UBA assets there, and that the bank’s conduct will be reported to regulators.
Ibe also accused UBA of helping the Ebonyi State Government frustrate enforcement of a December 2021 judgment worth $30 million and ₦20 billion. That claim could not be independently verified.
He warned that disobedience of court orders by financial institutions could weaken the judiciary’s credibility and investor confidence.
A staff member at an Abuja branch, speaking anonymously, said armed policemen visited and warned they would return during the week. The employee said workers fear for their jobs and worry that bullion vans could be seized. These claims could not be independently verified, and police have not commented.
The case may test the obligations of banks in garnishee proceedings and how far judgment creditors can go to enforce court orders.
