By Paul Aondoakaa 

The National Industrial Court, Abuja Division, has issued an interim order restraining the Governor of Benue State, the state government and other defendants from seizing, impounding or interfering with official Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles in the possession of three former commissioners who served under Governor Hyacinth Alia.

The order affects former Commissioner for Humanitarian Services and Disaster Management, Aondowase Kunde; former Commissioner for Works and later Youth and Sports, Tiza Orya Imojime; and former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Anna Itodo.
Justice M.A. Hamza issued the orders while ruling on an ex parte application filed by the former commissioners through their counsel, Greg Mbasuen, in suit NICN/ABJ/291/2026.

The court also restrained the Governor, Benue State Government, Secretary to the State Government, Attorney General of Benue State and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) from allegedly harassing, intimidating or threatening the former commissioners in connection with the vehicles pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

However, the court declined the request for an unconditional order prohibiting the arrest and detention of the former commissioners.

According to the information supplied for this report, the court has directed that the Motion on Notice seeking an interlocutory injunction be heard, with the hearing date to be fixed by the court registry at the earliest practicable date.

The legal dispute goes beyond the vehicles.
The three former commissioners are asking the court to declare that they are entitled to outstanding salaries, allowances, benefits, end-of-tenure entitlements, vehicle-related benefits and other payments allegedly accruing from their appointments and service in the Benue State Government.

They are also seeking orders compelling the defendants to calculate, verify and pay whatever amounts may be found due under their appointment letters, government policies, circulars and applicable conditions of service.

A major aspect of their case concerns alleged threats connected to demands for the return of the official vehicles.
The former commissioners are asking the court to declare as unlawful an alleged telephone threat in which they were reportedly told that they would be “fished out” and dealt with if they failed to appear to return the vehicles.

That allegation remains a matter before the court and has not been established as a fact by a final judgment.

The applicants are further seeking a perpetual injunction preventing the defendants or anyone acting on their behalf from threatening, harassing, intimidating, unlawfully arresting or detaining them in connection with the vehicle dispute.

They are also claiming ₦100 million in general damages, jointly and severally, over what they describe as threats, intimidation, harassment and interference with their peace and personal liberty.

What the interim order means
The interim order does not determine the substantive dispute or establish that the former commissioners are ultimately entitled to retain the vehicles.

Rather, based on the supplied court information, the order temporarily restrains the named defendants from taking specified actions while the court considers the pending application for interlocutory relief.

The broader question of whether the former commissioners are owed outstanding benefits, and how the vehicles should ultimately be dealt with, remains subject to the court proceedings.

There is no response from the Benue State Government, the Governor, the Secretary to the State Government, the Attorney General or the DSS contained in the material supplied to Benue Info-pedia for this report.

Their positions should therefore be sought and reported if they become available.

The case could have wider implications for how official vehicles and other benefits attached to political appointments are handled after commissioners leave office, particularly where former officeholders claim that their statutory or contractual entitlements remain unresolved.

For now, the immediate legal position is that the defendants are restrained from impounding or interfering with the vehicles covered by the order pending further proceedings.

Benue Info-pedia will update this report when the court fixes the hearing date or when substantive responses are received from the affected government authorities.