Pensioners vs CBN: Court gives October 6 date to hear committal proceedings

FRANCIS IWUCHUKWU

Justice Saliu Saidu of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos yesterday gave October 6, 2014 to commence hearing into the committal proceedings, initiated by some pensioners, against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), over alleged disobedience of the judgment of the court.

The pensioners includes:
Mr James Jemilo, Mr Thompson Edun, Mr Jacob Amao, and Mr Joachim Ajala. The plaintiffs had instituted the suit for themselves, and as representatives of all CBN pensioners, on May 6, 1999, asking the court to order the CBN to comply with the Federal Government's directive on pension harmonisation.

The pensioners had argued that the policy was introduced in the public service with effect from January 1, 1997. According to them, "The policy was designed to eliminate the disparities in the pensions of workers who retired on the same grade, with those who served the same number of years but retired at different times."

The plaintiffs further argued that consequent upon the alleged initial failure by the apex bank to comply with the policy, they instituted an action designated FHC/L/CS524/99 before Justice Wilson Egbo-Egbo of the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking an order, compelling it to so abide.

But in its defence, the apex bank maintained that it could only pay the harmonised pension, subject to what it termed “affordability and sustainability” of pension funds. However in a judgment delivered on May 22, 2000, Justice Egbo-Egbo, (now retired), granted the reliefs sought by the pensioners.

The judge had directed CBN to pay the applicants, all accrued pensions with effect from January 1 1997, on emoluments currently earned by their serving counterparts. Justice Egbo-Egbo had posited that this was as prescribed by the Federal Government's policy on harmonisation of pensions, insisting that such accrued pensions were to be paid subsequently, as and when due.

Listed as contemnors are: The CBN, Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Alhaji Suleiman Barau; Director Human Resources Ms Chizoba Mojekwu, and Director of Legal Services, Mr Simon Onekutu.