United Bank for Africa (UBA) is facing fresh legal pressure as Mauritz Walton Nigeria Limited seeks to enforce a ₦7.44 billion judgment debt involving the Benue State Government.
The bank’s Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba, and other senior executives reportedly face possible committal proceedings over alleged failure to comply with a court order.
The dispute has also triggered reported police visits to some UBA branches in Abuja, raising fears among employees over possible disruptions and asset seizures.
A staff member at one of the branches, who spoke anonymously, said armed policemen had visited the premises and warned that they would return during the week.
The employee said workers were worried about the situation, including the possibility that the bank’s bullion vans could be seized during enforcement operations.
The dispute centres on a judgment debt of ₦7,448,113,025.42 awarded to Mauritz Walton Limited against the Benue State Government.
In a ruling, Justice Bello Kawu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory made an earlier Garnishee Order Nisi absolute against UBA.
The court directed the bank to pay the judgment sum through the creditors’ solicitors within 24 hours of being served with the order.
It discharged the remaining 20 garnishees, leaving UBA subject to the payment directive.
Justice Kawu also ruled that the Benue State Government’s appeal against the substantive judgment did not automatically stop the garnishee proceedings.
The court identified account number 100722383870 as the state government’s FAAC/Treasury Single Account domiciled with UBA.
According to the ruling, the account held ₦2,093,222,436.25 as of November 18, 2025, when the Garnishee Order Nisi was served.
The court further noted that subsequent Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations had entered the account and were covered by the order to the extent required to satisfy the judgment debt.
However, the available court document does not establish whether UBA subsequently paid the debt, obtained a stay of execution or secured an order varying the directive.
Mauritz Walton alleges that UBA failed to comply with the order and says it has initiated steps to pursue contempt proceedings against responsible executives.
The company has also reportedly sought the attachment of UBA’s headquarters and other branches in Abuja to recover the money.
The Group Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mauritz Walton, Dr Maurice Ibe, said the company would pursue all available legal remedies.
He said its lawyers had been instructed to seek the committal of responsible bank executives where legally justified.
Ibe also disclosed that the company had briefed lawyers in the United Kingdom and the United States to explore options for attaching UBA’s assets in both countries.
He said the company planned to report the bank’s alleged conduct to relevant regulatory authorities.
Ibe further accused UBA of frustrating the enforcement of a December 2021 judgment obtained by his company against the Ebonyi State Government.
The earlier judgment reportedly involved $30 million and ₦20 billion.
He alleged that UBA collaborated with the Ebonyi State Government to frustrate the judgment. The allegation could not be independently verified.
The businessman warned that alleged failure by financial institutions to comply with court orders could undermine investor confidence in Nigeria’s business and judicial environment.
He insisted that Mauritz Walton would continue pursuing the recovery of the judgment debt.
The dispute has renewed questions about banks’ obligations when holding funds belonging to judgment debtors and the enforcement of garnishee orders.
Meanwhile, the reported police visits have heightened anxiety among some UBA employees in Abuja over possible further enforcement measures.
UBA’s response to the allegations, the reported police visits and the claimed failure to comply with the court order was not available at the time of filing this report.
The current status of the reported committal and attachment applications could not be independently established.