Alleged N924m Debt: Hearing of AMCON’s Suit Against Kanu’s Homes For Jan 16

Alleged N924m Debt: Hearing of AMCON’s Suit Against Kanu’s Homes For Jan 16

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Lagos Federal High Court, today, adjourned till January 16, a suit filed by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) seeking to recover an alleged N924million debt owed by Hardley Apartments, owned by former Nigeria international, Nwankwo Kanu. 

Justice Aneke fixed the date for hearing of all pending applications. The suit was originally scheduled for mention today. 

AMCON filed the suit in 2015 with Hardley Apartments and its Director, Ayoola Gam-Ikon as first and second defendants, before Justice Okon Abang, who has been transferred to another jurisdiction. 

Following Justice Abang’s transferred, the suit was reassigned to Justice Aneke.

In December 2015, following AMCON’s application, Justice Abang granted an order freezing the accounts of the former Super Eagles’ captain and Hardley Apartments.

The order, which was to subsist pending the determination of the suit, followed AMCON’s bid to recover the debt. 

AMCON in an affidavit deposed to by one of its Credit Officers, Mr Victor Igabor, stated that between May 2008 and January, 2011, Skye Bank offered Hardley Apartments a loan of N520,457,000.

It alleged that the hospitality firm based in Victoria Island, Lagos and Gam-Ikon, could not repay the loan.

The defendants’ indebtedness as at October 15, 2011, was said to be N924,788,754.56, representing principal and interest.

AMCON, which bought over the loan, told the court that if the restraining order was not granted, Kanu’s and the company’s assets could be dissipated.

It sought an order attaching the debt due from Hardley Apartments as well as debts accruing from the defendants jointly and severally.

AMCON prayed for an order freezing all accounts belonging to the defendants jointly and severally in any bank or financial institution in Nigeria.

Granting the order, Justice Abang said AMCON could, in the interim, possess all the movable and immovable properties known as Plot 46, Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos belonging to Kanu.

The court also froze all accounts belonging to the defendants jointly and severally anywhere and in any bank and any financial institution in Nigeria pending the hearing of the suit.

The case again came up on June 17, 2015 but was adjourned till October 15, 2019 due to vacation in the judiciary, after which it was adjourned to January 28, 2020 and assigned to Justice Aneke.

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