ABU, 110 Ex-Staff Fail To Settle N2.5bn Judgement Debt

The out-of-court settlement meeting on the execution of N2.5 billion judgement debt between Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and its 110 disengaged staff has ended in a deadlock.

The counsel to the judgement creditors, Mr Isaac Enabhule, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Zaria that the meeting was convened at the instance of the university.

He said they were about executing a judgement worth over N2 billion against the ABU, “but the university wanted a settlement and we consented to the settlement.”

Enabhule explained that judgement of the court can be compromised through settlement and the meeting was to arrive at a decision that would be favourable to all parties and report back to the court on December 11.

“The meeting was inconclusive because a detail of the data sent by PTAD to ABU regarding the pensions of the unjustly retired officers of the university was sent to Abuja.

“Our clients (judgement creditors) don’t have a copy; our clients, therefore, appear not to agree with the data,’’ he said.

He added that some of our clients were put under PENCOM while others were under PTAD, hence the need for our clients to confirm the true position of what PTAD sent to ABU.

However, Enabhule assured that the meeting would be reconvened between now and Dec. 11 and report back to the court on the terms of settlement.

A former deputy bursar of ABU, Mr Daniel Bode, who is the leader of the judgement creditors, told NAN that prior to the court judgement, “there were three different white papers that recommended our reinstatement”.

According to him, the three different white papers that recommended their reinstatement were not implemented and they proceeded to court where they obtained a judgement on Nov. 30, 2015.

“There was an appeal by the respondent, ABU, Federal Ministry of Education and attorney-general of the federation, but the appeal was dismissed.

“We made computation of our entitlements which was approved by the court and the judgement debtors did not challenge it at the court until after we applied for the execution of the judgement,’’ he said.