Staff of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Benin Office, Edo State, were left shocked and embarrassed on Monday after court bailiffs, armed police officers and other security agents stormed the Council’s premises to enforce a court judgment against the Federal Government agency.
The officials, acting on a judgment in favour of Mr. Ahmed Fawaz against the NEPC, took possession of several properties belonging to the Council, including computers, photocopiers, a generator, standing fans, a refrigerator and other office equipment.
A Nissan Frontier pickup vehicle belonging to the NEPC, with registration number NEPC 11, was also listed among the properties reportedly seized during the exercise.
The development came after a N10 million judgment was entered against the NEPC in the case of Mr. Ahmed Fawaz v. Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Suit No. B/238/13, concerning a dispute over ownership of a parcel of land at Evbuobogun Town, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, along the Benin-Sapele Road in Benin City, Edo State.
The judgment was subsequently considered on appeal in Suit No. CA/B/77/20, where the Court of Appeal, Benin Division, allowed the appeal and ordered the NEPC to pay N10 million as general damages, among other reliefs.
SaharaReporters gathered that the court enforcement team arrived at the NEPC Benin Office on Monday, August 17, 2026, in a red-and-yellow bus with registration number YEK 286 XA.
The court officials reportedly took over the premises, while about three armed Mobile Police officers were strategically stationed at the entrance to prevent interference with the execution of the writ.
The enforcement exercise reportedly left NEPC employees helpless as they watched court officials remove the Council’s property from their workplace.
At the end of the exercise, several office items, including computers, photocopiers, a generator, standing fans, a refrigerator and other equipment, were reportedly taken to the Benin High Court premises.
The NEPC pickup vehicle, the Nissan Frontier with registration number NEPC 11, was also listed among the seized properties. However, sources said it was unclear whether the vehicle was eventually towed to the court because of mechanical problems.
A video obtained by SaharaReporters shows a police inspector sitting in front of the bus used by the court officials, while a court bailiff dressed in a black suit is seen taking an inventory of items removed from the NEPC office.
In the background, several NEPC employees could be seen making frantic telephone calls to the Council’s headquarters and seeking possible intervention as the court officials proceeded with the enforcement exercise.
The employees reportedly watched in disbelief as properties belonging to the Federal Government agency were taken away from their office.
How The N10m Judgment Came About
A court document obtained by SaharaReporters showed that the judgment arose from the long-running legal dispute between Fawaz and the NEPC over ownership of land located at Evbuobogun Town, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, along the Benin/Sapele Road.
The matter was originally filed as Suit No. B/238/13.
Following the appeal, the matter proceeded to the Court of Appeal, Benin Division, under Suit No. CA/B/77/20.
According to the court documents, the Court of Appeal allowed the appeal and ordered the NEPC to pay N10 million in general damages, in addition to other reliefs contained in the judgment.
Sources familiar with the matter told SaharaReporters that a Certified True Copy of the judgment, together with the writ and notice of attachment, was reportedly sent to the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NEPC, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, in July 2026.
The sources stated that despite receiving the court papers, Ayeni failed to take steps to settle the judgment debt or pursue the appropriate legal remedy.
According to the sources, the failure to act eventually resulted in the issuance and execution of the writ of attachment at the Benin Office on Monday.
A source familiar with the matter told SaharaReporters that the judgment and enforcement proceedings could have been handled without the embarrassing seizure of government property if the NEPC management had acted when the court documents were received.
‘She Just Refused To Take Action’
A senior staff member of the Council, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said the incident could have been avoided if the Executive Director had acted on the court papers.
The staff member said: “This matter would have been settled amicably if the Executive Director had acted on the court papers sent to her. She just refused to take action on the matter until the Court Officials arrived with Policemen to humiliate Officers.
“By her action, she has ridiculed and embarrassed the Council, the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Federal Government of Nigeria in general.
“This is a clear case of dereliction of duty which should be frowned upon by the Government.”
The employee said the arrival of armed security personnel and court officials at the NEPC premises created an embarrassing situation for workers who had to watch helplessly as government property was removed.
NEPC Official Raises Questions Over Handling Of Judgment
A top NEPC official who spoke to SaharaReporters also questioned the manner in which the matter was handled by the Council’s management.
The official said that when a monetary judgment is entered against a Federal Government agency, the agency is expected to notify the appropriate authorities and seek legal advice on the judgment and whether an appeal should be pursued.
The official stated: “Once a monetary judgement has been entered against a Federal Government Agency, it is mandatory for such Agency to immediately inform the Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation who reviews the judgement and either advise on the action required if no appeal is contemplated.
“Similarly, if a judgment creditor intends to enforce a monetary award by attaching funds belonging to the Agency in a bank, he is expected to obtain a fiat of the Attorney General in line with the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act.”
A source familiar with the matter further told SaharaReporters that the case was never brought to the attention of the Attorney General of the Federation. However, SaharaReporters could not independently confirm this.
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters learnt that the properties removed from the NEPC Benin Office were still within the court premises at the time of filing this report, while the NEPC office itself had reportedly been left almost completely empty following the enforcement exercise.
Staff members were seen around the premises discussing a humiliating experience.
The workers reportedly expressed concern about the public embarrassment caused by the presence of court officials and armed security personnel at a Federal Government office.
Previous Controversy Over Promotion Exercise
Sources close to the Council also told SaharaReporters that the latest incident was not the first controversy in which Ayeni has been accused of acting contrary to government rules and directives.
Last year, according to documents and accounts provided to SaharaReporters, the intervention of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation was required to halt a controversial promotion exercise involving officers whose eligibility had been questioned.
One of the officers mentioned in connection with the controversy was Mr. Abayomi Akodu, described by sources as a microbiology graduate and a loyalist of Ayeni.
Sources explained that Akodu had been considered eligible to take promotion examinations to the rank of Director (Accounts), despite concerns raised over his qualifications and applicable civil service rules.
According to the allegations, the relevant rules prohibit the use of professional certificates in place of the required academic qualification for entry into the directorate cadre.
In response to the controversy, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation issued a circular dated July 8, 2025, referenced HCSF/3065/V.1/219, warning against the elevation of officers without compliance with due process.
Sources noted that despite the circular, Ayeni insisted that the affected officers should proceed with the promotion exercise.
The situation reportedly escalated to the point where a combined team of directors from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service, the Civil Service Commission and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment reportedly visited the venue of the promotion exercise and stopped the process.
The latest development followed another controversy over the proposed re-engagement of four retired NEPC staff members on contract appointments.
According to sources, some NEPC employees resisted the proposed re-engagement, alleging that the appointments violated the Public Service Rules.
The sources claimed that Ayeni subsequently threatened staff members that she would bring external directors to occupy positions within the Council after employees resisted the re-engagement of the four retired officers described by sources as her loyalists.
The arrival of the external directors approximately a week ago has therefore been interpreted by some employees as the fulfilment of that threat.
The development has reportedly increased anxiety within the Council, with some officers expressing fears that the presence of externally posted directors could affect their opportunities for career progression.
NEPC Staff Union Reacts
In a terse statement dated August 18, 2026, the NEPC Staff Union assured employees that it had commenced steps to challenge the posting and redeployment of the officers.
The union stated that it had taken “proactive steps to formally oppose the posting/redeployment of Directors and Assistant Directors to the Council.”
The situation remained tense as of Tuesday, while Ayeni was reportedly away in the United States of America.