Court Dismisses AMCON’s Ex-parte Order

An Abuja Federal High Court has vacated an ex-parte order against Peace Global Satellite Communication network and it’s Managing Director, Oreye Udo Livingstone, earlier obtained in March this year.

The earlier interim ex-parte order which granted Benson Ibezim, the 3rd Claimant/ Respondent, the receiver Manager appointed by AMCON power to take possession of the properties belonging to Oreye and his wife, which includes their residence and hotel located at Omole estate, Lagos, was vacated after careful consideration of all Affidavits, counter-Affidavits, written addresses, exhibits and submissions of counsel for and against the relief sought.

According to Ovie Edomi, media consultant to Barrister Oreye Livingstone, the presiding Judge in his ruling ordered immediate vacation of the ex-parte order, noting that the earlier ex-parte order was obtained without jurisdiction and based on suppression of facts.

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Ovie in a statement made available to us said the Judge noted that AMCON’s Lawyer went ahead to move the motion on March 9th in spite of the fact that a notice of Appeal showing that the matter was in the Supreme court was served the Claimant on February 14 this year.

The statement recalled that Oreye Livingstone has petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions over the seizure of his properties by AMCON.

According to the petition, Asset Management Company Of Nigeria (AMCON) took possession of his two housing properties and business premises after 15 heavily armed Policemen storm his hotel in Omole estate in July 24 this year and AMCON Receiver, Benson Ibezim took partial possession of the properties because the Receiver failed to file motion on notice within 14 days as directed in Paragraph 9 of the same order of the court dated March 9, 2020. However, three days to the court ruling, the Receiver attempted to take full possession.

This according to Oreye happened despite that the matter was pending at the Supreme Court. Findings reveal that Oreye through his company Peace Global Satellite Communication in 2004 borrowed N 178 million to supplement the rolling out of wired phone. Out of the N178m borrowed, the sum of N162 million was paid back, remaining a balance of N16m on principal.

Thereafter, a thunderstorm destroyed the Peace Global Satellite Communications network, a development that made WEMA bank to attempt selling the collateral used to secure the loan but Peace Global went to court in 2009 claiming amongst other things, that WEMA Insurance Brokers failed to process their thunderstorm claim for 2 years.

This matter we also gathered was already in court before the creation of AMCON but according to Oreye, WEMA Bank misrepresented to AMCON that balance on principal was N240m which made AMCON to buy the loan for N123m. According to the petition, compilation of records was done by all parties including AMCON on June 16, 2020. Thereafter the records were transmitted on June 19, 2020 to Supreme Court while brief of Argument has since been filed; despite Ibezim claim via an affidavit that the matter was not before any law court.

Oreye through his Lawyer was able to prove to the court that the matter was before the Supreme court necessitating the same Judge vacating the earlier order. As at press time AMCON’s security men are still at the residence of Oreye at Omole estate and his business premises, an hospitality outfit, also located at Omole estate, Lagos hours after the judgment of the Court ; and in spite of the fact that AMCON’s Lawyer has obtained the certified true copy of the judgment, aside been in court when the judgment was delivered.

Meanwhile, Oreye has called on the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to ask AMCON to withdraw its’ security men from his residence and hotel in obedience to the court ruling.

According to Ovie, Oreye’s lawyer, Barrister Mike Umonnan, commended the court for being the last hope of the common, while expressing confidence in the judiciary.