SAN FRANCISCO, February 08, (THEWILL) – Bi-Courtney Group has faulted its listing on the Debtors’ List of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) as published in the press on February 5, 2016.
Tolu Oshobi, partner, Babalakin & Co. Legal Practitioners, debunked the claims in AMCON’s ‘name and shame’ publication, and described the move as “an act of extreme bad faith.”
A statement signed by Oshobi, a copy of which was made available to THEWILL, noted: “It is no longer news that the Federal High Court in 2012, found that the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Principal of AMCON, is indebted to our clients in the sum of N132 billion and directed the Federal Government to set off from the above-mentioned sum any claims (if any) agreed with our clients to be due to any agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, including AMCON.”
He argued that the order of the Federal High Court, in Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/50/2009, Bi-Courtney Limited vs. Attorney General of the Federation, remained subsisting, observing also that the order applied to all the companies that entered into settlement discussions with the AMCON as the “BCRR Group,” namely: Bi-Courtney Limited, Chartered Investment Limited, Resort International Limited and Roygate Properties Limited.
“These companies collectively entered into settlement discussions with AMCON as the “BCRR Group” with a view to amicably resolving these disputes,” said Oshobi.
“It has always been the position of Bi-Courtney and its sister-companies that any claims that AMCON has against any of them should be set off against the judgment of N132,540,580,304.00 awarded in favour of Bi-Courtney and which far exceeds the aggregate sum allegedly owed to AMCON by these companies (which is seriously disputed, especially with reference to Resort).
Oshobi further said that AMCON was aware of this state of affairs, which has been clearly communicated to them. “AMCON’s publication of the name of Resort International Limited was therefore, an act of extreme bad faith and a misrepresentation and concealment of the true facts.
“AMCON is also aware that its claim against Resort International Limited is substantially bereft of any legal or contractual basis. However, the issues have been submitted to courts and tribunals of competent jurisdiction where they are better dealt with than on the pages of newspapers.
“We are considering whether or not the publication, being false, constitutes a libelous publication and if it does, we will take appropriate legal action.”
Story by David Oputah
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