The Roosevelt Ogbonna led Access Bank is presently enmeshed in a land grabbing mess with a real estate firm, A4 Reality Limited.
The firm has dragged the bank before the Lagos State High Court, sitting in Eti-Osa for allegedly using police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other law enforcement agencies to harass and intimidate its personnel in attempt to forcefully takeover the firm’s landed property.
The suit against the bank is pending before Justice Ganiyu Ali Safari and the court had already granted an interim order, restraining the police, EFCC and other law enforcement agencies from further arresting , harassing or intimidating the firm’s personnel.
Listed as respondents in suit were Access Bank Plc, Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Inspector General of Police (IGP), and EFCC.
The court granted the order restraining the respondents due to ex Parte application filed by A4 Reality Limited stop the police and others from harassing and arresting its staff regarding a landed property situate at Plot 1, Block XXE, Ojomu Chieftaincy Family Layout, Ajiran, Eti-Osa Local Government Area.
In granting the restraining order, the court ordered parties in the suit to maintain status quo pending the final determination of the suit.
Justice Safari stopped all the respondents and any other law enforcement agencies by themselves and/or through their agents, privies, officers or otherwise howsoever called from harassing, threatening. arresting, molesting. inviting and/or chasing away the officers, employees, staff, construction engineers, site managers or anybody/person working for the firm on the land.
Part of the orders granted by the court restraining the respondents read: ” an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents to maintain status quo and stay all actions in connection with the applicant’s property situate and located at Plot 1, Block XXE, Ojomu Chieftaincy Family Layout, Ajiran, Eti-Osa Local Government Area. Lagos State measuring approximately 5000 square metres pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion on Notice in this suit.
“An order directing the respondents to maintain status quo and stay all actions in connection with the applicant’s property situate and located at Plot 1, Block XXE, Ojomu Chieftaincy Family Layout, Ajiran, Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State measuring approximately 5000 square metres pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion on Notice in this suit”.
In the affidavit in support of the suit, deposed to by the applicant secretary, Opelusi Olubukola,, averred that the firm acquired the land from the bank and all necessary documents were signed the bank’s officials to give the firm legal right over the property.
She however , alleged that the bank started using law enforcement to harass, intimidate and arrest its officials , immediately the firm took possession of the property.
Meanwhile, the trial judge, Justice Safari has fixed November 13, 2023 for further hearing of suit .
Financial pundits are of the opinion that the bank’s public perception is on the decline after the expiration of Hubert Wigwe’s tenure as Access bank Managing Director.
