UK Court Rejects Tinubu’s Sovereign Immunity Appeal; Allows SSS Victim Emovbira Williams to Seize $21 Million from Nigeria’s Account with JP Morgan
A British court has dismissed an appeal by the administration of Bola Tinubu, upholding the ruling of Justice Mary Clare Moulder. The decision allows Louis Emovbira Williams to proceed with seizing $21 million and approximately £20,000 from Nigeria’s central bank account with JP Morgan, according to court filings obtained by Peoples Gazette.
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“The application of the defendants is dismissed, and the default judgment granted by Moulder J on 9 November 2018 remains in effect,” stated Justice Robert Bright in a judgment issued on December 19, 2023.
Louis Emovbira Williams, a British-Nigerian citizen, initiated legal proceedings against the Nigerian government in a foreign court, highlighting the abuse and fraud he endured at the hands of Nigerian authorities, including the State Security Service (SSS), following a business deal gone wrong.
Mr. Williams alleged that his torture and financial losses resulted from a multimillion-dollar deal with Nigeria, where he guaranteed the payment of $6.5 million in 1986 for the importation of foodstuff from England. However, the deal soured, leading to his arrest, trial, and imprisonment by a military tribunal in 1986.
Escaping from Nigerian prison in 1989, Mr. Williams sought justice in the UK. In November 2018, he obtained legal authorization from Justice Moulder to withdraw funds from Nigeria’s savings account with JP Morgan in the United States.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) contested the ruling, arguing that Nigeria is a sovereign state and not subject to the orders of other nations. However, Justice Bright ruled against Nigeria’s immunity plea, emphasizing that Mr. Williams’ business deal involved funds transferred to a UK citizen in a UK bank.
The judgment bolsters Mr. Williams’ case in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, where he aims to withdraw the $21 million from Nigeria’s account with JP Morgan.
Lawyers for both parties have concluded filings, awaiting a decision by the court. The law firm of Brown Gavalas & Fromm LLP, alongside other lawyers representing President Tinubu’s government, has been challenging the withdrawal on procedural grounds.
This legal saga continues to unfold, raising questions about Nigeria’s sovereign immunity and the accountability of financial transactions on the international stage.
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