Download PDF
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height:115%"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">REPRESENTATION<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">T. J. KWANGE Holding the brief of S. J. GANI for the judgment creditor.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height:115%"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">RULING<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">By a Complaint, Claimant brought this action on the 10<sup>th</sup> March, 2011, claiming the following reliefs against the defendants jointly and severally:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:-18.0pt; mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">A declaration that the termination of the claimant’s appointment by the 1<sup>st</sup> defendant vide its letter referenced P.12, 518 of 01/03/2011, is a violation of the Ahmadu Bello University Law; it is therefore invalid, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:-18.0pt; mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">A declaration that the claimant was not given fair hearing.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:-18.0pt; mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">An Order of this Honorable Court setting aside the letter of termination of the appointment of the claimant dated the 1<sup>st</sup> day of March, 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:-18.0pt; mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">A declaration that the claimant is still in lawful employment of the 1<sup>st</sup> defendant.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:-18.0pt; mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">5.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">An Order of this Honorable Court setting aside the decision of the 1<sup>st</sup> defendant’s council of the Ahmadu Bello University at its 144<sup>th</sup> (Regular) Meeting held on Tuesday, 1<sup>st</sup> march, 2011, contained in letter reference No. P.12, 518 of 01/03/2011,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:-18.0pt; mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">6.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">An Order reinstating the claimant to his office and position as Lecturer I in the Department of English and Literary Studies forthwith.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:-18.0pt; mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">7.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">An Order of this Honorable Court directing the defendants to pay all the entitlement of the claimant from the date of the purported termination till the date of judgment.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Judgment Creditor/Applicant filed a <b>MOTION EX-PARTE </b>on 29<sup>th</sup> September, 2016 supported by a 20 paragraph affidavit deposed to Judgment Creditor praying the Court for the following orders:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:-18.0pt; mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">A GARNISHEE ORDER</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> nisi attaching the monies of the Judgment Debtor in the hands of the Garnishee or so much thereof as may be sufficient to satisfy the Judgment sum of #15,078,057.62K (Fifteen Million, Seventy Eighty Thousand and Fifty Seven Naira, Sixty Two Kobo).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:-18.0pt; mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">AN ORDER</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> that the Garnishee appear before this Honorable Court to show cause why an order should not be made against them for the payment to the Judgment Creditor the debt due and owing from them to the Judgment Debtors or so much thereof as may be sufficient to satisfy the debt due under the judgment together with cost.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman",serif">WRITTEN ADDRESS IN SPPORT OF MOTION<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman",serif">ISSUE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman",serif">Whether considering the circumstances of this case, this Court can grant this application.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Learned Counsel J. T. Kwange Esq. submitted that a garnishee proceeding arises in a suit when the suit has been prosecuted to Judgment with an Order for payment of money to the successful party. Per (as he then was) in the case of <b><span style="color:red">GOVERNOR OF OYO STATE v. AKINYEMI (2002) FWLR (PT. 120) 1761 @ 1775, PARAS. C-D. </span></b>He submitted that it is the procedure whereby the Court makes an Oath in favor of the Judgment Creditor to attach any debt owing to the Judgment Debtor from any person or body. <b><span style="color:red">RE DIAMOND BANK LTD. (2002) 17 NWLR (PT. 795) 120 @ 133, PARAS. C-D</span></b>, per <b>Aderemi, JCA.</b>Relying on the provisions of Sec. 83 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act, counsel submitted that this Application is worthy of favourable consideration by this Honorable Court.<b><span style="color:red"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">On the 16<sup>th</sup> December Learned Counsel for the Judgment creditor moved his application and adopted his written address and further and better affidavit. Urging the court to grant the order Nisi on the therein named Garnishees in the figure deposed to by the Judgment creditor in his affidavit in support of the motion for Garnishee.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:144.0pt;text-align:justify;text-indent: 36.0pt"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Court Decision<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Having carefully summarized the position of the Judgment creditor, his arguments and submissions and having carefully reviewed all the authorities cited, read through all the relevant processes and digested the contentions of the Judgment creditor whose written submission are herewith incorporated in this ruling and specific mention would be made to them where the need arises. The issue for determination in this suit to my mind is whether this Court can properly grant the judgment creditor applications. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The judgment creditor is seeking an order of this court in Garnishee nisi to attach the sum of N15, 078,057.62K (Fifteen Million, Seventy Eighty Thousand and Fifty Seven Naira, Sixty Two Kobo in the hands of the within named Garnishees. A perusal of the supporting affidavit revealed that the Judgment creditor had deposed to various sums of money due to him as gross salary for 67 months, the judgment creditor also annexed his pay slip. These averment led the Court to require that the judgment creditor attach a copy of the judgment and further directed that as the judgment did not contain any monetary pronouncement and in order to save time the judgment debtor should be put on notice so as enable the court make a finding as to the entitlement of the judgment creditor and proceed from there.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Now the judgment creditor rather chose to file a further and better affidavit and thereafter seek leave of court to rely on same to aver that they had notified the judgment creditor earlier in this matter and attached their MA1 dated on 2<sup>nd</sup> August 2016. Looking at this document I find that it does not contain any mention of the claimant’s salary of the amount being claimed. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Even the judgment creditor’s citation of <b><span style="color:red">GOVERNOR OF OYO STATE v. AKINYEMI Supra </span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">is not helpful as in that case the Judgment debt was specified as N14, 350, 000.00 in the judgment of the Court of first instance and the pronouncement of the court is actually “A garnishee proceedings arise in a suit or in an action when it has been prosecuted to judgement; and an order for the payment of money to one of the parties is embodied. Garnishee proceedings are a form of execution.†And the issue in contention in that suit was the financial ability of the respondent to refund the judgment sum if ordered.</span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;color:red"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">I am aware of the pronouncement of the <b><u>Learned authour Afe Babaloa OFR SAN, in his book “Enforcement of Judgments © 2003 Intec Printers Ibadan at page 113</u></b> that unascertainable amounts are attachable in garnishee relying on <b><span style="color:red">LUCY Vs. WOOD [1884] W. N 58, </span></b>the Learned author went on to state in situation as to doubt concerning the amount to be attached the Court is to go further and establish the actual amount in question with reference to Section 78 of the Sheriff & Civil Processes law.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman",serif">In Labour Law following </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:red;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">IHABUHMB Vs. ANYIP [2011] 12 NWLR (pt.1260) 1</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:red;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language: EN-GB"> the position was that “in a claim for payments of salaries and other benefits, such salaries and other benefits must be specifically pleaded and proved. The position of the law required proof to pleadings however the Court of Appeal in </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;color:red">EZE & ORS. v. GOVERNOR OF ABIA STATE & ORS. (2015) 53 NLLR (PT. 179) 299 CA @ 313</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Held that “where there is no evidence led to establish the sums due to the claimant as salaries and allowances, no specific sum can be ordered by the court. It is such a situation that the court is faced having to Garnishee a Judgment where no specific sum was determined as judgment debt. I find that the judgment is not ‘Garnishable’ without more</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">There are options nevertheless open the judgment creditor in these circumstances. I am not satisfied that this application can be granted or that based on the present processes the judgment creditor is entitle to be paid the amount sought to be garnished as “his salaries and emoluments†without more by way of Garnishee at this stage. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">This application therefore cannot be granted and is hereby struck out.<b><span style="color:red"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">This is the Court’s ruling and it is hereby entered.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman",serif"> _____________________<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman",serif">Hon. Justice E. N. Agbakoba <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman",serif">Judge <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>