A Senior District Court in Makurdi has ordered the Benue State Government to pay about N57 million to former Chief of Staff, Terwase Orbunde and 13 others who served under ex-Governor Samuel Ortom.
Presiding Judge, Kevin Mbanongun issued the order on November 5, directing a commercial bank holding the state’s funds to enforce payment within five hours of being served.
The beneficiaries include Senator Titus Zam, Simon Abua, Prof. Jonathan Uever, Dr. Mathew Mnyam, and the late Shima Ayati, among others. They had sued the state for unpaid severance gratuities promised in their appointment letters.
Their lawyer, Barrister Ocha Ulegede, initiated the garnishee proceedings after the National Industrial Court ruled in their favour in December 2024—a judgment the government had failed to honour.
Speaking after the ruling, one of the beneficiaries, Tahav Agerzua, described it as “justice well served,” noting that funds were earlier approved toward the end of the Ortom administration, but not all payments were completed.
