AMCON, others face contempt charge over family’s eviction
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The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday fixed Monday for hearing in contempt proceedings initiated by the alleged owners of a disputed property on Victoria Island in Lagos against the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
The plaintiffs’ counsel, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), told Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa that AMCON evicted his clients’ tenants, despite a pending suit on the subject matter.
Marcellina Jolaoso and Bankole Jolaoso instituted the action as executrix of the estate of the late Mr. Olujimi Jolaoso against Safe Equip Nigeria Limited, AMCON, its Managing Director, Mr. Gbenga Alade, Aloyaius Ezenduka, and Robert Ohuoba.
Ayorinde alleged that the defendants broke down the doors of the rooms occupied by lawful tenants of the properties while relying on an ex parte order AMCON obtained on October 2, 2024, through its counsel, C. Ezenduka, despite an interlocutory injunction granted the plaintiffs by Justice Lewis-Allagoa on June 25.
The Nation yesterday sighted the Form 48 (Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Court Order) and Form 49 (Notice to Show Cause Why Order of Attachment Should not be made) filed by the plaintiffs.
AMCON and the executrix of the late Olujimi Jolaoso Estate are in court over the ownership of the property, which was alleged to have been used to secure an unpaid facility from FCMB, a debt bought by AMCON.
The plaintiffs contended that the tenants were evicted while the action between the parties was pending before Justice Lewis-Allagoa.
They also argued that there was an interim order restraining AMCON from tampering with the property pending the suit’s hearing and determination.
They also claimed that the defendants allegedly filed the ex parte application before another judge of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, securing an order on October 2 to take over the same property that is subject to the litigation.The next day, armed with the ex parte order, AMCON and its solicitors, accompanied by the police, stormed the property in contention, allegedly ejecting its occupants and keeping the property under lock and key.
