A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, fixed Feb. 22 for hearing of a N50 million suit filed by a businessman, Chief Abdulwahid Adeleke, against the United Bank for Africa (UBA) PLC over alleged corporate bullying.
Justice Frances Messiri fixed the date after counsel to the claimant, Adam Ugwuanyi, informed the court that he had served all the court processes on the defendant (UBA).
Ugwuanyi said that despite effecting the service of their applications on the bank, it was not represented in court.
The trial judge, who noted that the matter was coming up for the first time before her, adjourned the suit until Feb. 22 for hearing.
She also ordered that hearing notice be served on the defendant.
A firm, Biospheres Technologies Limited, through its Managing Director, Mr Adeleke, had filed the suit marked CV/1583/2021 dated July 14, 2021 and filed same date before the court.
The firm had alleged it mistakenly transferred the sum of N15,000 from its Sterling Bank Account 0501531253 to a bank account of one SAIFULLAH MURTALA 21851406542 with the defendant’s bank.
It averred that all entreaties to the bank and a court order directing it to reverse the transfer were ignored and disobeyed.
In a deposition, Adeleke averred that “on the 11th day of March, 2021 the plaintiff mistakenly transferred the sum of N15, 000 from its Sterling Bank Account 0501531253 to a bank account of one SAIFULLAH MURTALA 21851406542 with the defendant’s bank.
“That on the same 11th day of March, 2021, the claimant obtained a court order from District Court 3 Jiwa, Abuja presided over by His Worship: Ebiwari E. D.
“That the said order mandated the defendant to reverse the sum of N15, 000 to the claimant’s account number mentioned above.
“That on March 12, 2021 when it presented the said court order and requested the defendant to comply with same, the defendant out rightly disobeyed the court order with impunity without any legal backing.
“That the defendant verbally informed the claimant that notwithstanding that the bank account complained of had a sufficient amount to pay off the claimant’s sum, that some other people have a lien which preceded that of the claimant with regards to the funds in the above bank account complained against.
“That the defendant did not furnish the claimant with any documentary evidence to substantiate its claim of existing previous claim.”
Adeleke averred that when all his pleading could not persuade the bank (defendant), he employed the service of a lawyer.
He said on two occasions, letters of plea were written to the bank by the lawyer, “calling on the defendant to do the needful before a court action would be initiated, but all effort fell on the deaf ears”
Adeleke said he even made a request to see from the bank copies of the purported court orders that preceded that of the complainant, but the request was also ignored.
He said the law firm of A. S. Ugwuanyi & Partners was briefed to prosecute this suit and the sum of ₦500, 000 was paid as professional fee and a receipt dated March 16, 2021 was issued.
“That I have suffered much expenses in lodging and fares since I am not a resident of Abuja and had to travel to and from Lagos State since the 11th day of March, 2021 till date, making earnest effort to rectify this problem which the defendant have made impossible.
“That the act of the defendant amounts to corporate bullying which should be seriously deterred for the betterment of the society,” Adeleke further averred.
(NAN)
