A contempt charge has been filed against the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),, Mr Godwin Emefiele, over his alleged refusal to order payment of N182 billion to Ogoni people as ordered by a law court.
The N182 billion was awarded against oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company, over a devastating oil spillage Ogoni land by the company.
The Ogonl people represented by Chief Lucious Nwosu SAN, filed the contempt charge praying the federal high court in Abuja to commit the CBN Governor to prison for allegedly disregarding the order of court that awarded the money to the aggrieved Ogoni people.
When the matter came upon on Wednesday, counsel to the Ogoni people, Lucious Nwosu SAN, expressed disgust over the absence of the CBN Governor in court.
He informed Justice Taiwo Taiwo that the charge against Emefiele is quasi-criminal in nature and warranted his physical presence in court to answer the charge.
However Damian Dodo SAN, counsel to Emefiele, informed the court that it was not the habit of his client to underate the court of law and assured that Emefiele will do the needful at the appropriate time.
Meanwhile, Shell Petroleum, represented by Olawale Akoni SAN, surprisingly appeared in the matter and informed the court that he had filed a motion praying the court to dismiss the contempt charge or, in the alternative, stay proceedings.
After taking arguments, Justice Taiwo Taiwo adjourned the matter to January 26th next year, and directed Emefiele and other parties to obey court.