Justice Lambo Akanbi of a Federal
High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria,
CBN to comply with its order to pay the sum of thirty seven point six billion
to the victims of Odi community in Bayelsa State as compensation for the
destruction of the community by the military in 1999.
Justice Akanbi gave the
order in a ruling on an application by the CBN challenging the February
judgment of the court which ordered the Federal Government to pay the amount to
the Odi community.
The Central Bank had argued
that the court did not give it right of fair hearing before issuing the order
against it.
Counsel to the victims of Odi
community Ifedayo Adedipe said that the application of the CBN was misconceived
and a ploy to deny the Odi community justice.
Ifedayo Adedipe also said the
implication of the ruling is that CBN has no option than to pay the money to
the Odi community or face criminal contempt charges.
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