Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has been ordered to appear before a Federal High Court in Abuja

Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has been ordered to appear before a Federal High Court in Abuja regarding a $53 million judgement debt related to the Paris Club refund. Justice Inyang Ekwo directed Emefiele to appear in court on January 18 for the hearing on a garnishee request issued on October 20, 2022. Emefiele had to appear "to be examined on oath touching the means you have or have had, since the date of the said garnishee order absolute, to pay the balance of $53 million now due and payable under the said garnishee order absolute and also show cause why you should not be committed to prison for default in payment," according to a court order from January 23, 2020. The decision came after an application by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Joe Agi, represented by Isaac Ekpa and Chinonso Obasi, against Linas International Ltd., the Minister of Finance, and the CBN. In order to bring Emefiele to court with his attorneys, Damian Dodo, Audu Anuga, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and Ginika Ezeoke, Jessica Iyoke, Abdullahi Afolayan, and Olayemi Afolayan, the applicants were asking the Inspector General of Police to arrest Emefiele. The lawsuit was brought about by an alleged $70 million verdict handed down against Linas for the attorney's assistance with the Paris Club reimbursement. The CBN governor reportedly only released $17 million, leaving a balance of $53 million.