The dispute has reportedly escalated into enforcement actions around some UBA branches in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

An employee of one of UBA’s branches in Abuja, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that armed policemen had visited the branch and warned that they would return during the week.

The employee said the development had generated fear among workers, who were apprehensive about the possible implications of the enforcement proceedings for the bank’s operations.

The staff member also disclosed that employees were becoming increasingly concerned about using the bank’s bullion vans to transport cash, amid fears that the vehicles could be seized during the enforcement exercise.

The legal dispute centres on a judgment debt of N7,448,113,025.42 obtained by Mauritz Walton Limited against the Benue State Government and subsequent garnishee proceedings involving funds held by UBA on behalf of the state government.

In a ruling delivered by Bello Kawu, Justice of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, the court made an earlier Garnishee Order Nisi absolute against UBA, directing the bank to pay the judgment sum to the creditors through their solicitors’ chambers within 24 hours of being served with the order.

The court also discharged the remaining 20 garnishees from the proceedings, leaving UBA as the garnishee against which the payment directive was issued.

 Kawu further ruled that the appeals filed by the Benue State Government against the substantive judgment did not automatically halt the garnishee proceedings.

The court identified account number 100722383870 as the Benue State Government FAAC/Treasury Single Account domiciled with UBA.

It stated that the account had a balance of N2,093,222,436.25 as of November 18, 2025, when the Garnishee Order Nisi was served on the bank.

The court also noted that subsequent Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations had been paid into the account, adding that the funds, including subsequent accruals, were covered by the order to the extent required to satisfy the judgment debt.

The court relied, among other authorities, on the Court of Appeal decision in Dangote Cement Plc v. Ekeson Salins Oil & Gas Ltd & Ors (2024) LPELR-62744(CA).

However, the court document does not independently establish whether UBA subsequently effected the payment, whether the order was stayed or overturned, or whether the judgment debt has been fully settled.

Mauritz Walton Limited alleges that UBA has failed to comply with the payment directive and says it has consequently activated contempt proceedings against the bank’s top executives.

The judgment creditors have also reportedly filed applications seeking the attachment of UBA’s headquarters and other branches in Abuja as part of efforts to enforce the judgment.

 Maurice Ibe, Group Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mauritz Walton Limited, said the company had remained committed to the judicial process despite what he described as provocations and intimidation by UBA and the Benue State Government.

Ibe said the company had instructed its legal team to pursue all available enforcement measures, including proceedings aimed at securing the committal of responsible bank executives.

He also disclosed that Mauritz Walton had briefed its lawyers in the United Kingdom and the United States to explore legal options for attaching UBA’s assets and properties in both countries.

According to him, the company also plans to report the bank’s alleged conduct to relevant regulatory authorities.

He alleged that the bank collaborated with the Ebonyi State Government to frustrate the earlier judgment, although the allegation could not be independently verified.

The businessman questioned the implications of alleged non-compliance with court orders by financial institutions, arguing that such conduct could undermine foreign investors’ confidence in Nigeria’s business environment and judicial system.

He maintained that Mauritz Walton would pursue the matter to its logical conclusion until the judgment debt was recovered.