Court Bars Energy Company From Accessing Funds In 24 Banks Over Fraud

Court Bars Energy Company From Accessing Funds

 

OpenLife Nigeria reports that a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos south west Nigeria has restrained two companies, Duport Midstream Company Limited, Platform Capital Investment Partners Limited and their Managing Director, Akintoye Akindele from accessing N1,379,400,918 billion, or its equivalent in any currency in 24 banks,listed before the court pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice filed by Union Bank Plc.

Duport midstream company limited is a source-agonistic energy provider committed to ensuring sustainable and impact accretive energy production delivery and consumption in Africa, according to their mission statement on the company’s website

The presiding Judge, Akintayo Aluko made the order following an application filed and argued on behalf Union Bank Plc by a Lagos lawyer Barrister, Temilolu Adamolekun.

Union Bank Plc had alleged that the defendants were indebted to it to the tune of N1, 379, 400, 918 billion, as of June 30, 2023 while interest continues to accrue under the terms of the various facilities granted by it to the first defendant company for several purposes as captured on the various offer letters.”

After the submission of. Mr. Adamolekun ,Justice Aluko said: “It is hereby ordered as follows:

“That an interim order of Mareva Injunction restraining the Defendants from dealing with any of the monies standing to their credit in all of their accounts, records or howsoever held with the 24 banks and also their monies standing to their credit in custody of the Plaintiff Uniion bank PLC up to the tune of N1,379,400,918 billion, or its equivalence in any foreign currency pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice is hereby granted.”

The court further restrained the banks from releasing to the defendants any monies, funds or any other instrument belonging to the Defendants, to the tune of N1,379,400,918 billion, or its equivalence in any foreign currency that may be or found in their custody.
The court also directed the banks “to disclose on oath whatever sum of money that may be in their custody belonging to the defendants for further direction of the Court .

Thereafter, Justice Aluko adjourned the matter to September 13, 2023, for the hearing of the substantive suit.
Meanwhile and in a related development, the Nigerian police have sued same Akintoye Akindele for allegedly bribing the team that was investigating him.

Akindele has been in police custody for about 3 weeks and was charged before the High Court of the FCT, Abuja on Friday, August 18, 2023.

Akindele, 49, was charged with offering N150 million bribe to the police investigative team working on a petition submitted to the Inspector General of Police (Force Intelligence Bureau) by Summit Oil International Limited on alleged criminal conspiracy, criminal diversion of funds and theft running into millions both in US dollars and Naira.

Earlier, the Lagos businessman sued the inspector-general of police, the Nigeria Police Force, Summit Oil International Limited, Dr Zulikat Wuraola Abiola, Duport Energy Limited and Mr Oluwatosin Odusanya, before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos for allegedly detaining him beyond the limit provided by the constitution.

But a court showed that police alleged that Akindele made an initial payment of N50 million out of the N150m he offered to facilitate his escape from custody and to enable him to flee abroad.

This bribery charge against Akindele may have validated his continued detention until investigations are concluded. Sources confirmed that the N50m was paid from an account named ‘Duport Midstream Company Limited.’