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The alleged owners of a property in Victoria Island, Lagos, have initiated contempt proceedings at the Federal High Court , the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) for its tenants despite a pending court case on the property.
The plaintiffs through their Counsel, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN ) told Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa on Wednesday that the occupants of the properties in contention were molestedwhen AMCON agents broke the doors to the house and forcefully evicted the residents while relying on the experte order obtained by AMCON before Justice Aneke on the 2nd of October, 2024 by counsel to AMCON C. Ezenduka despite an interlocutory injunction granted by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa on the 25th of June.
Plaintiffs in the contempt proceedings are Marcellina Jolaoso and Bankole Jolaoso who both instituted the action as executrix of the estate of the late Mr Olujimi Jolaoso
The defendants in the suit are Safe Equip Nigeria Limited, AMCON, Mr Gbenga Alade, Managing Director/CEO AMCON, MR. Aloyaius .C. Ezenduka and MR. Robert Ohuoba.
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, was sighted by our correspondent in court today.
It would be recalled that AMCON and the executrix of the Late Olujimi Jolaoso Estate are contending parties at the Federal High Court, Lagos over the ownership of the property which was alleged to have been used to secure an unpaid facility from FCMB bank, a debt that was consequently bought by AMCON in line with the Act establishing the Corporation.
It is the plaintiff’s contention that its tenants were evicted while the action between the parties was pending before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa.
It also contends that there was an interim order restraining AMCON from tampering with the said property pending hearing and determination of the suit and the substantive motion was thereafter adjourned for hearing till October 3, 2024, with the knowledge of the defendant.
It claims that despite these, the defendants allegedly went ahead to file an ex-parte application before another judge of the Federal High Court, Lagos division wherein they secured an order on October 2, 2024, to take over the same property that is subject of litigation.
The next day, armed with the ex-parte order, AMCON and its solicitors accompanied by the police, stormed the property in contention, and allegedly ejected its occupants and kept the property under lock and key.
Meanwhile, when the matter came up for hearing on the 3rd of October,2024, Justice Allagoa adjourned the case till the 14th of October, for hearing.
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