A state high court has ordered the Ekiti government to pay former Deputy Governor Abiodun Aluko Lawal his outstanding entitlements dating back to 2010.
Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi delivered the ruling Thursday, directing the government to settle all unpaid allowances and benefits due to Lawal during his tenure. The court held that the entitlements were statutory and could not be withheld by successive administrations.
Lawal, who served under former Governor Segun Oni, had approached the court after repeated efforts to claim his benefits failed. His counsel argued that the state’s refusal to pay violated constitutional provisions guaranteeing the rights of elected officials to their allowances.
The Ekiti government did not immediately comment on the ruling. Legal analysts say the judgment could set a precedent for other former officials seeking unpaid benefits, potentially exposing the state to significant financial liabilities.
The case underscores ongoing tensions between past officeholders and state governments over pension rights and entitlements, an issue that has surfaced in several Nigerian states.
