The Federal High Court in Abuja has taken a significant step by authorizing contempt proceedings against two top officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for their alleged failure to comply with a court order.

The court granted this authorization against the Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, and the Director of Legal Services Department, Salam-Alada Kofo, due to their failure to adhere to a garnishee order absolute issued on February 22.

This garnishee order absolute, issued by Justice Inyang Ekwo, directed the CBN to pay a judgment debt of N63.7 million and $10,000 awarded against the federal government.

The judgment debt was awarded for the unlawful arrest and detention of a German citizen, Martin Gegenheimer, by men of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

The notices of contempt proceedings, endorsed by the Registrar of the court, specifically target Cardoso and Kofo.

They require the CBN officials to attend court and show cause why an order of committal should not be made against them.

In response to the CBN's claims regarding the federal government's foreign exchange accounts being in deficit, Justice Ekwo ruled that the judgment sum should be deducted from the government's funds in the custody of the CBN to settle the debt.

The judgment in question stems from a case initiated by Gegenheimer to enforce a judgment of the ECOWAS Community Court.

The ECOWAS Court had declared Gegenheimer's arrest and detention illegal and ordered the Nigerian government to pay him N53.65 million as special damages, N10 million in general damages, and $10,000 in bail expenses.

Gegenheimer's case highlights the importance of upholding human rights and the rule of law, even in matters involving foreign nationals.

The contempt proceedings against the CBN officials underscore the judiciary's commitment to ensuring compliance with court orders and upholding justice for all parties involved.