Achuba Petitions CJN Over JB Daudu SAN
By Wellington Jopelo
Former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Elder Simon Achuba, has petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) over an alleged attempt to block the enforcement of a N1.07 billion court judgment awarded in his favour.
Achuba is asking the legal authorities to investigate J.B. Daudu, SAN, and his law firm for what he described as deliberate actions meant to frustrate lawful court decisions and deny him the benefits of judgments already upheld by higher courts.
According to the petition, the former deputy governor accused the senior lawyer of filing what he termed unnecessary and misleading court processes after final judgments had been delivered, insisting that such actions amount to professional misconduct and abuse of legal procedures.
Achuba said the dispute arose from his unpaid salaries, allowances, and statutory entitlements covering parts of 2017 and 2018, which courts had ruled must be paid by the Kogi State Government. The total sum, he said, stands at N1,070,860,138.
He explained that after winning at the National Industrial Court, the judgment was upheld on appeal, making it final and binding. However, he alleged that efforts were made to stall enforcement through fresh filings aimed at delaying payment.
In his complaint, Achuba claimed that the appeal processes initiated were contrary to constitutional provisions that make labour-related judgments final at the appellate level, adding that the actions were meant to wear him down financially and emotionally.
He further alleged that false information was presented to the court regarding hearing dates, which he said misled the court and disrupted enforcement proceedings.
The former deputy governor said such conduct, if allowed to stand, could damage public confidence in the legal profession and weaken respect for court judgments.
He therefore urged the CJN and the LPDC to set up a disciplinary panel to investigate the matter thoroughly and apply appropriate sanctions if wrongdoing is established.
Achuba maintained that his petition was not personal but aimed at protecting the integrity of the justice system and ensuring that court judgments are respected and enforced without obstruction.