COURT FIXES JUNE 30 FOR CONTEMPT HEARING AGAINST BAYELSA ATTORNEY-GENERAL, OTHERS OVER UNPAID N1.06BN JUDGMENT DEBT

By Special Correspondent

A Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has fixed June 30, 2026, for the hearing of contempt proceedings against the Attorney-General of Bayelsa State, Mr. Biriyai Dambo, SAN, and two other government officials over the alleged failure to comply with court orders relating to the payment of a long-standing judgment debt.

The matter, Suit No. BYHC/YHC/CV/71/2025: Rematon Services Limited v. Government of Bayelsa State & 2 Others, came up before Honourable Justice E.G. Omukoro on June 10, 2026, for either a report of settlement or continuation of proceedings.

However, efforts to resolve the dispute amicably suffered a setback after counsel to the applicant informed the court that negotiations had collapsed due to the respondents’ failure to honour repeated commitments to settle the debt.

According to the applicant, despite assurances given since the last adjournment on April 29, 2026, the Bayelsa State Government and other respondents failed to make the agreed payment or demonstrate any concrete intention to settle the matter.

Counsel to the respondents, however, appealed to the court for more time to conclude discussions.

In response, Justice Omukoro expressed concern over the prolonged delay, noting that the court had already granted sufficient time for settlement efforts. The judge warned that endless adjournments under the guise of negotiations could undermine public confidence in the administration of justice and create the impression that the court was unwilling to enforce its orders.

Consequently, the court adjourned the matter to June 30, 2026, for the definite hearing of the Motion for Committal, while encouraging the parties to reach an amicable resolution before the next hearing date if possible.

The dispute revolves around a judgment debt owed to Rematon Services Limited, the indigenous contracting firm responsible for constructing the Bayelsa State High Court Complex, the headquarters of the state’s judiciary.

Despite securing judgments in its favour at both the Bayelsa State High Court and the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, the company has allegedly remained unpaid for over fifteen years.

Although the Bayelsa State Government subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court, the trial court had earlier refused an application for stay of execution and ordered that the judgment sum of N1.06 billion be deposited into an interest-yielding account operated by the Chief Registrar of the Bayelsa State Judiciary.

That order, issued in March 2021, has reportedly not been complied with, leading to the current contempt proceedings.

Further raising questions about the government’s commitment to resolving the matter, the Attorney-General, through a letter dated January 14, 2026, reportedly requested the contractor’s bank account details to facilitate payment of a negotiated judgment debt valued at approximately N1.3 billion.

Under the reported agreement, an initial payment of N900 million was to be made immediately, while the remaining N400 million would be settled in instalments over five months. However, more than five months after the arrangement was reached, the agreed payment has allegedly not been made.

The prolonged delay has reportedly caused significant financial and emotional hardship to the contractor, a widow who serves as the alter ego of the company, despite multiple court victories affirming the company’s entitlement to payment.

With the contempt proceedings now set for hearing, attention is focused on whether the respondents will comply with the court’s orders or face possible legal sanctions for continued disobedience.