Respite came for the Adamawa State Government recently when the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja overturned the judgement of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court ordering it to pay Ned Munir Nwoko, the senator representing Delta North senatorial district $35,618,054.61or its Naira equivalent over some disputed contractual obligations.
The court had further issued an Order Nisi in garnishee proceedings against all banks in Nigeria to intercept the government’s funds until the judgement debt was cleared prompting it for approach the appellate court.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that on December 2, 2025, the Court of Appeal heard all appeals and subsequently, on February 10, 2026, delivered judgement in favour of the Adamawa State Government, allowing all three appeals and nullifying the lower court’s decisions.
The Appeal Court also ordered that the case be returned to the FCT High Court for retrial.
Giving details of the case in a statement on Wednesday February 18, 2026, Humwashi Wonosikou, the chief press secretary to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri explained that “Upon becoming aware of the judgement, the Adamawa State Government promptly appealed to the Court of Appeal against the garnishee order and the ruling refusing a stay of execution”.
The court ruled in its favour thus bringing respite to the state government.
Upbeat about the outcome, Wonosikou said, “The effect of the success of the Adamawa State Government at the Court of Appeal is that the State has been saved from paying the plaintiff the sum of $35,618,054.61, or its naira equivalent”.
Senator Nwoko, a billionaire businessman, had been involved in legal battles with some state governments and local government councils over alleged consultancy agreements in respect of the Paris Club refund recovery contracts.