By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
A bank customer Adedoyin Dare Olasunkanmi, and two others, Adewoye Adeyinka Joshua and Onadeko Thomas Olusesan, have slammed a N407.8 million suit against Union Bank of Nigeria Plc before a Lagos High Court in Ikeja over alleged breach of contractual agreement.
In their statement of claim filed through their counsel, Chief Fassy Yusuf, the three businessmen who deal in general iron, steel and metal scraps, instituted the legal action for themselves and on behalf of other stakeholders in the botched transaction with the bank.
They averred that in their natural cause of business, they were approached by one Mr. George from Chidex Nigeria Enterprises, an agent of the Receiver/Manager duly appointed by the bank who informed them about the availability of Iron, steel and metal scraps, and other movable assets to be disposed by the Receiver/Manager in Port-Harcourt.
They further averred that Adedoyin Dare Olasunkanmi (1st claimant) being a long-standing customer of the bank immediately called his Bank Account Manager, one Mr. Brown, for enquiries. The said Mr. Brown confirmed the legitimacy and availability of the goods in the premises of Dec. Oil and Gas Ltd in Port Harcourt, which was a company being managed by the bank’s agent.
The claimants stated that upon the confirmation given by Mr. Brown, they pooled funds and resources together among themselves and many others and raised a total sum of N117, 750, 000. 00. The money was said to have been subsequently transferred to Union Bank on March 1, 2022 for the purchase of the movable items of Dec. Oil and Gas Limited- in Receivership at Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt.
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The claimants further stated that curiously, despicably and against all known ethical and professional conduct, the bank issued a backdated receipt dated June 14, 2021, whereas payment was made on March 1, 2022. They added that similar backdated receipt was also issued by the bank’s Receiver/Manager, Africa Law Practice NG & Company.
The bank was said to have later sent out a letter dated February 16, 2022, through its Business Support and Recovery Department, confirmed the status of its Receiver/Manager and that Pryce and Penny Consulting should proceed to conclude the transaction.
The claimants said they later mobilised men and logistics from Lagos to Port Harcourt but upon getting to the Jetty for evacuation of the movable items, they were prevented from having access to the items purchased, adding that one Mr. Damilare Fasanya, a staff of the Receiver/Manager was contacted and informed of the ugly development.
The claimants stressed that Fasanya asked them to pay additional N22 million into the account of Pryce and Penny Consulting, before they could access and evacuate the items paid for. They said the request was later met, following which they were allowed to enter the Jetty.
However, the claimants averred that upon their entry into the Jetty, they were arrested by the police on 24th March, 2022, over allegation of stealing and fraudulent conversion. They were locked up and their equipments were seized.
According to the claimants, they were later told by the police that the items had earlier been sold to another party.
It was said that Damilare Fasanya was also invited by the police and he was mandated to refund about N12.5 million he collected from the N22 million the claimants paid into the account of Pryce and Penny Consulting.
The claimants further averred that at a meeting with their lawyer, Fasanya apologized for the botched transaction and promised that the bank will make a refund of the amount lost by them. They contended that the bank has failed, refused and neglected to fulfill the promise.
Consequently, the claimants have filed a suit before the Lagos High Court against the bank, asking for the understated reliefs:
“A declaration that the total conduct of the defendant (Union Bank) is despicable, cruel, callous, ignoble, odious, unethical, most unprofessional and a brazen act of economic and financial strangulation of the claimants.
“An order mandating the defendant to refund the sum of N117, 750, 000.00 being payment made by the claimants to Union Bank Plc as payment for the goods but which the defendant refused to release to the claimants.
“An order mandating the defendant to refund the sum of N22 million being payment the claimants were made to part with the bank’s Receiver/Manager without meeting the purpose of the payment.
“A declaration that the defendant is indebted to the claimants to the tune of N1.8 million being amount collected from them as miscellaneous payment for the botched and spurious purchase that never existed.
“An order mandating the defendant to refund the sum of N8.7 million being expenses incurred in the botched transaction.
“An order mandating the defendant to pay the sum of N57.1 million as special damages for the unpleasant medical, social and psychological trauma endured by the claimants as a result of the cruel action of the defendant.
“An order mandating the defendant to pay the sum of N200 million as general damages and the sum of N10 million as litigation cost, as well as the payment of 20 percent interest per annum on the total sum awarded from the date of judgement until final payment is made”.
Meanwhile, the defendant is yet to file a defence to the suit while no date has been fixed for its hearing.