Nigeria, April 8 -- The National Industrial Court in Makurdi, Benue State, has ordered the state government to pay more than N6.8 million as death benefits to the widow of a deceased official of the state.

Judge Isaac Essien ordered the payment of death benefits, which had been due since May 2017, to the widow of Linus Otigbo, according to the synopsis of the judgement shared on the court's website on Tuesday.

Mr Otigbo passed away on 20 February 2016, in active service as a Grade Level 10 officer in the state's Ministry of Lands & Survey. At the time of his death, he had dedicated nearly 29 years to his role.

His widow, identified as Mrs Otigbo, who is the next of kin and Administrator of the Estate of his estate, filed her suit after...