Court appoints liquidator for Chika Okafor’s Chicason Group over N1,3 billion loan

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, South West Nigeria, has appointed chief registrar of the court as provisional liquidator of a limited liability  company,  Chicason Nigeria Limited, to take charge of all the identified traceable assets, and funds of the company in banks and other financial institutions pending the hearing and final determination of the winding up petition filed against the company.

The order of the  presiding Judge,  Nicholas Oweibo, was sequel to a motion on notice filed and argued  before the court, urging the court to appoint provisional liquidator for the company, pending the final determination of the winding up petition filed against the company.

In an affidavit sworn to by a litigation officer Chima Chukwuekwe, it was alleged that the petition was presented to wind up Chicason Nigeria Limited due to its inability to liquidate it’s admitted huge outstanding indebtedness to the petitioner.

Chicason Nigeria Limited, was alleged to have obtained N1,380,000,000.from defunct Intercontinental bank for the purposes of purchasing machineries and equipment which includes; blow moulding machines, packaging equipment for vegetable oil, soap and detergent lubricants production, conveyor system, tin making and folding equipment amongst other machineries.

In securing the N1,380,000,000.loan the company pledged, amongst others, a property located at Plot 3527,  off Osun Crescent, Cadastral Zone, A6 Maitama, Abuja.

However,  an attempt to register the aforesaid charge, search conducted revealed that statutory right over the property had been revoked.

After the disbursement of the huge funds to the company, it became impracticable for the bank to perfect all the securities availed the company.

Thereafter, the respondent in the face of repeated demands failed and variously refused to liquidate the entire huge depositors’ funds as at when due at the evolution of the maturity due date.

Following the company’s un-ending default and having suffered various queries from the regulatory Central Bank of Nigeria at the instance of non-performing  toxic loans, the bank mandated it’s solicitor to call in the entire indebtedness and issue the  requisite statutory demand against the company. Intercontinental bank Plc went under as a result of toxic bad debts.

It was alleged further that the company is Insolvent and unable to pay it’s  just and legitimate debts as demanded, therefore, placing of the company’s assets in the custody of provisional liquidator is to preserve the company’s assets pending the hearing and final determination of the petition to prevent same from being dissipated by the company ‘s Chairman,its Director, as well as it’s agent and privies.

In his ruling, Justice Oweibo acceded to the request of the petitioner by appointing Chief registrar of Federal high court as provisional liquidator.

Profile of Chicason Group, according to information on its website states that it  is a home grown and technology driven conglomerate, with vibrant member companies and affiliated businesses that epitomize the African enterprise spirit with diverse interests in Oil & Gas Trading, Oil & Gas Exploration, Manufacturing, Mining, Real Estate, Project Management, Agriculture, travel/tourism, Health care and Construction.

Founded in 1981, Chicason Group has over the past 36 years built its reputation on the foundation of integrity, commitment, team work and providing great value through great people culture. The Group has throughout the years grown into a strong player in its markets and has continued to demonstrate exceptional performance through excellent products and service delivery to our clientele and forming strategic trade relationships with highly reputable companies across the globe.
Chicason Group is headed by Founder/Group Executive Chairman Dr Alex Chika Okafor.

The Group  brands include A-Z Petroleum Products Limited, Rock of Ages Properties PLC, RIMCO Mining, Cason Travels Limited, RIMCO Nigeria Limited, Afro-Asia Automobile and  Plastics, Promotex Nigeria Limited, among others that may not have been included on the website.